The San Diego Padres re-signed right-handed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to a minor-league deal. Edwards became a free agent in early August when the Padres outrighted him off the 40-man roster, but now he's back with the organization to provide relief depth in the minors. The 32-year-old veteran appeared in just one game for the Friars this year and allowed a hit while walking two before being pulled without recording an out. In three minor-league stops, he's posted a 3.30 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, seven saves, 45 strikeouts and 29 walks in 46 1/3 innings over 26 outings (six starts). At Triple-A El Paso, Edwards is sporting a rough 4.76 ERA and 1.82 WHIP with an 18:12 K:BB in four starts covering 17 innings of work. There's no guarantee that Edwards makes it back to San Diego in 2024, even when rosters expand in September.

Houston Astros right-hander reliever Ryan Pressly (back) threw a bullpen session at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday before the series finale against the Boston Red Sox. Manager Joe Espada said that Pressly probably won't need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before coming off the injured list. A lower-back strain put the 35-year-old veteran on the 15-day IL last weekend, but he's making good progress and should be ready to rejoin the big-league bullpen when he's eligible to return on Aug. 29. A rough stretch before his injury ballooned Pressly's ERA on the season to 3.86, while he's also holding a 1.41 WHIP with two saves and 49 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings pitched in 2024. When he rejoins the Astros, he should return to a key late-inning setup role for the first-place Astros, making him valuable in deeper holds leagues.

Washington Nationals outfield prospect Dylan Crews went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run and a walk on Tuesday for Triple-A Rochester. Crews has spent two months in Triple-A, and the transition has been relatively smooth. Through 46 games, he's slashing .255/.333/.459 with 10 doubles, eight homers, 28 RBI, eight stolen bases, and 19:37 BB/SO. Currently the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball (per MLB.com), Crews will likely assume the top spot once Jackson Holliday and Junior Caminero graduate from prospect status. With just over a month left in the 2024 season, Crews may even make his MLB debut before the season ends.

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez will take a seat in Wednesday's series finale against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field with a left-hander on the bump. Connor Joe will make the start at first base and will hit cleanup for the Pirates versus Rangers left-hander Andrew Heaney. Tellez has only faced left-handers 39 times this year and is hitting .206 (7-for-34) against them, so it's no surprise he will retreat to the bench in favor of the right-handed-hitting Joe. Overall, Tellez has been a modest source of power (10 homers) as corner-infield depth in deeper fantasy leagues in 2024. Joe has only faced Heaney two times in his career and has gone hitless. Versus southpaws this year, he's gone 33-for-127 (.260) with three of his seven home runs. He'll be a low-cost DFS sleeper for Wednesday's slate out of the cleanup spot for the Bucs.

Texas Rangers infielder Josh Smith is drawing out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field. Adolis Garcia will serve as the designated hitter and will bat cleanup, while Travis Jankowski makes the start in right field and will hit eighth against Pirates right-hander Domingo German. Due to injuries, mainly Josh Jung's broken wrist suffered early in the year, Smith has played in a career-high 119 games in 2024 in his third year in the big leagues. He's currently hitting .266/.355/.416 with a .771 OPS, 12 home runs, 51 RBI and eight stolen bases and has been a pleasant surprise for an overall disappointing Rangers team after they won their first-ever World Series last fall. While Smith has been a bright spot, the 27-year-old has struggled in the second half, hitting .198 (23-for-116) with two homers, four doubles, 11 RBI, three steals and 28 K's in 29 games.