Free-agent first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith signed a major-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, according to sources. Smith was released by the Boston Red Sox recently after serving as their primary first baseman since May because of a rib-cage injury to Triston Casas. Smith's deal with the Reds is pending a physical. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter hit .237/.317/.390 with a .706 OPS, six home runs, 34 RBI and 29 runs scored in his 249 at-bats with Boston before being released this year. Smith has been a bit better since the All-Star break, though, and he could see some playing time in Cincy at first base against right-handed pitching now that Jeimer Candelario (toe) is on the injured list. The former 11th overall pick by the New York Mets in 2013 is a career .247/.314/.405 hitter in eight major-league seasons with a .719 OPS.UPDATE: Smith is making his Reds debut on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates and rookie right-hander Paul Skenes, starting at first base and batting seventh at PNC Park.

The Los Angeles Dodgers activated infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor (groin) from the 10-day injured list on Thursday and designated outfielder Jason Heyward for assignment in a corresponding move. Taylor will return to the Dodgers after landing on the shelf in late July with a strained left groin. Both Taylor and Heyward have been pretty dreadful offensively in 2024, but the 33-year-old Taylor at least offers versatility at other positions on the infield. Taylor will return to a .167/.277/.265 slash line with an abysmal .542 OPS, three homers, 15 RBI and three steals. Continue to ignore him in mixed fantasy leagues. Heyward, meanwhile, loses his 40-man roster spot after already seeing his playing time dwindle in right field after Mookie Betts returned from a fractured hand. The 35-year-old has hit .208 (36-for-173) for the Blue this year with six homers, 28 RBI and four steals.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic retreats to the bench on Thursday against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park with a left-handed pitcher on the mound. Adam Duvall will make the start in left field and will hit sixth for the Braves against Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez. Duvall has never faced Sanchez in his career. Seven of his 10 long balls on the year have come against southpaws in 2024, but Duvall is also batting .178 (52-for-293) on the year with 98 strikeouts and 20 walks in 95 total games played. Now that Michael Harris II is back from his hamstring injury, the 25-year-old lefty swinging Kelenic will see more time off against southpaws. Only one of his 13 home runs this year have come against left-handed pitching, while he's hitting a weak .222 (14-for-67) against them. Kelenic has homered once in August while going 14-for-54 (.259).

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Michael Siani (oblique) took full batting practice in the cages on Thursday for the first time since going on the 10-day injured list earlier this month due to a strained right oblique, according to manager Oliver Marmol. The skipper said a minor-league rehab assignment is near, and the team is still deciding when and where his rehab stint will be. Oblique injuries can be tricky to come back from, so it remains to be seen how many rehab games the 25-year-old will require before rejoining the major-league roster. When the Cardinals give him the green light to return, Siani, who hits from the left side, will return to a platoon role in center field in St. Louis. Speed is his biggest asset for fantasy managers in NL-only and deep-mixed formats. Siani has only two homers in 2024 to go along with 18 RBI and 14 steals in 234 at-bats.

St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz (back) is likely to have at least one more minor-league rehab start before the team reinstates him from the 60-day injured list. Matz allowed four earned runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out three in five innings (85 pitches) in his third rehab start for Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday night, and the Cardinals would like to see a little bit more from the 33-year-old southpaw before bringing him back to the majors. When Matz does return, it's possible that the Red Birds use a six-man starting rotation to close out the year to accommodate Matz. However, there's also the possibility that Matz is used in long relief. Either way, fantasy managers in mixed leagues can probably ignore him the rest of the way. Before his back injury, Matz had a 6.18 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and career-worst 13.4% strikeout rate in six starts.