Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl (hamstring) is back in center field and is batting leadoff for the Reds on Friday against the visiting Boston Red Sox and right-hander Kutter Crawford. Friedl was removed from Monday's game with a tight hamstring and was held out the last two games as well. However, the left-handed-hitting 28-year-old outfielder is now ready to go this weekend and returns to the top spot in the batting order. He's already missed a lot of time due to injuries this year, which has made it difficult for him to get settled offensively. Friedl is currently hitting just .214 (18-for-84) with four home runs, 15 RBI and six stolen bases, but he has a good track record against right-handed pitching and could easily bounce back the rest of the year if he can stay on the field consistently. Friedl has never faced Crawford in his career.

Toronto Blue Jays infield prospect Orelvis Martinez is making his major-league debut on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Carlos Carrasco, starting at second base and batting eighth. The Blue Jays' No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, will be playing for the first time since he was called up from the minors earlier this week. The 22-year-old Dominican has impressive pop for a middle infielder, but he has a tendency to swing and miss a lot and could rack up the strikeouts in the early going in the big leagues. Martinez got the call to Toronto by hitting .260/.343/.523 with an .867 OPS, 16 homers, 46 RBI and 46 runs scored in 63 games for Triple-A Buffalo this year. The power is enticing in fantasy, but it doesn't look like he's going to be playing regularly and could be sent back to the farm at any time.

Miami Marlins outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (hamstring) is back in center field and is batting leadoff for the Fish in Friday's contest against the visiting Seattle Mariners and right-hander George Kirby. The Marlins scratched Chisholm from Wednesday's lineup due to right-hamstring tightness, but he's feeling better after a scheduled day off on Thursday and is back in the lineup to start the weekend series against the M's. The 26-year-old needs to be returned to all starting fantasy lineups, even in the tough matchup against Kirby. The native of the Bahamas will bring a seven-game hitting streak into Friday's game. During that streak, he's gone 11-for-23 (.478) with a homer, triple, five RBI, three walks, a steal and three runs scored to raise his season slash line to .266/.333/.446 with 10 homers, 36 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said on Friday that catcher Tyler Stephenson (undisclosed) is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day-to-day. Stephenson is not in the starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Boston Red Sox. Instead, Luke Maile will be the backstop and will bat ninth against Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford. The Reds called up minor-league catcher Austin Wynns for Friday's game for extra catching insurance with Stephenson banged up. Friday's game will be the second straight missed game for the 27-year-old Stephenson. We should have more information on what exactly is bothering the Reds' starting catcher, but for now, fantasy managers need to keep him out of their lineups. Stephenson is currently slashing .245/.324/.399 with six homers, 22 RBI and 27 runs scored for the Reds in 188 at-bats in 2024.

Toronto Blue Jays rookie infielder Spencer Horwitz is not in the team's starting lineup on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians. Fellow rookie Orelvis Martinez will make his major-league debut at second base and will bat eighth against Guardians right-hander Carlos Carrasco. Horwitz, the team's No. 16 prospect per MLB Pipeline, made five straight starts after initially being called up but has now found himself on the bench in three of the last seven games. The 26-year-old former 24th-round pick in 2019 out of Radford University has gotten off to a strong start in his first 34 big-league at-bats, hitting .353, although he still has yet to leave the yard and has driven in only three runs. Horwitz is currently in the midst of a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 5-for-15 with a double and RBI.