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Christian Yelich DH | MIL
Brewers' Christian Yelich: Tending to sore back
Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that Yelich is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres due to back soreness, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Yelich had missed about a month due to a strained left groin before returning to action as the Brewers' designated hitter for Tuesday's 6-4 win and going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. The groin presented no issues for Yelich in his return to the lineup, but the 34-year-old is now being viewed as day-to-day with a new health concern. While the skipper suggested that Yelich's absence from the lineup is in part precautionary, it's worth noting that the 2018 NL MVP has a long history of back problems and underwent a microdiscectomy in August 2024. The Brewers will wait and see how Yelich responds to a day off before determining the next steps.
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Chandler Simpson LF | TB
Rays' Chandler Simpson: Back in starting nine Wednesday
Simpson (leg) will start in left field and bat leadoff Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
The Rays held Simpson out for Tuesday's 7-6 win so that he could receive more time to recover from left leg cramps, which cropped up during Monday's series opener. The day off appears to have helped resolve the issue, as Simpson will step back into his usual spot in the outfield and batting order. Tampa Bay is hopeful that the missed start won't disrupt Simpson's rhythm at the plate; since the start of May, Simpson has hit .316 with three stolen bases, eight runs and six RBI in 10 games.
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Ronald Acuna Jr. RF | ATL
Braves' Ronald Acuna: Not returning this week
Manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday that Acuna (hamstring) won't be activated from the 10-day injured list during Atlanta's homestand, which runs through Sunday, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.
Acuna hasn't hit any snags in his recovery from the Grade 1 left hamstring strain that sent him to the IL on May 3; Atlanta is seemingly just exercising some caution in bringing the prized outfielder back from the injury. Per Barrett Sallee of 680 The Fan Atlanta, Weiss emphasized that Acuna has looked great during running drills and checked out fine while sprinting at a little more than 50 percent speed during a pregame workout Wednesday. Atlanta plans on re-evaluating Acuna after the homestand concludes before deciding if he'll return for the team's four-game road series in Miami next week, or if he'll perhaps head out on a brief rehab assignment prior to being activated from the IL.
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Michael Conforto DH | CHC
Cubs' Michael Conforto: Heading back to bench Wednesday
Conforto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Atlanta.
Conforto will hit the bench after he had started at designated hitter in four of the Cubs' past five games while going 6-for-14 with a home run, three doubles, three walks, three runs and two RBI during that stretch. Though he's been magnificent in a part-time role this season with a 1.065 OPS over 58 plate appearances, Conforto will likely find consistent reps hard to come by while Moises Ballesteros (.804 OPS) has been productive enough as the Cubs' primary DH and has more long-term investment from the organization.
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Henry Davis C | PIT
Pirates' Henry Davis: Steps in for injured Bart
Davis will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
He had slipped to second on the Pirates' catching depth chart to begin May, but Davis appears to have at least temporarily taken over as the team's No. 1 backstop after Joey Bart (foot) was forced to the injured list Tuesday. Davis will start a third consecutive game behind the dish Wednesday after going 1-for-6 with three walks between the prior two contests.
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Will Benson RF | CIN
Reds' Will Benson: Occupying leadoff spot Wednesday
Benson will start in right field and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Nationals, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
After winning their final two games of the past weekend to bring an end to an eight-game losing streak, the Reds returned to their losing ways in Tuesday's series opener, falling 10-4 to the Nationals. The loss has prompted manager Terry Francona to shake up the lineup, with Benson ascending to the leadoff spot and TJ Friedl dropping to eighth in the batting order. Benson is hitting just .227 in May, but he's drawn six walks on the month to prop his on-base percentage up to .414. Benson will be making his fourth straight start Wednesday and will stick in the lineup over Ke'Bryan Hayes, who brings an elite glove at third base but has been one of the majors' worst-performing regulars in 2026 with a .191 wOBA over 38 games.
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Ceddanne Rafaela CF | BOS
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Receiving night off
Rafaela is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Rafaela appears to be receiving a routine breather after he had started in each of the team's last 11 games while going 12-for-43 (.279 average) with two home runs, two stolen bases, seven RBI and four runs over that stretch. Jarren Duran will slide over from left field to replace Rafaela in center.
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Willi Castro 2B | COL
Rockies' Willi Castro: Receiving evening off
Castro is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
Castro will take a seat Wednesday after he had been included in the lineup for each of the last five games while making starts at all four infield spots. Despite not having a permanent home at any one position, Castro has handled a near-everyday role for the Rockies this season and has turned in a .241/.303/.339 slash line to go with two home runs, three stolen bases, 17 runs and 13 RBI over 122 plate appearances.
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Jung Hoo Lee RF | SF
Giants' Jung Hoo Lee: Logs two hits in win
Lee went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a double in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Dodgers.
Lee hit a two-run double to right field in the seventh inning, driving in San Francisco's final pair of runs. He also added a single in the ninth, marking his third multi-hit performance over the last five games. The 27-year-old outfielder is now slashing .272/.316/.386 with 17 runs scored, 14 RBI, two home runs and zero steals across 171 plate appearances this season.