The San Francisco Giants placed right-hander Randy Rodriguez (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with right-elbow inflammation and recalled right-hander Spencer Bivens from the minors in a corresponding move. In his first season in the big leagues, Rodriguez has gone 3-2 with a 3.89 ERA (3.28 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP and a 52:16 K:BB in 50 1/3 innings pitched over 33 appearances (one start). It remains to be seen if the 24-year-old Dominican reliever will be able to return to San Francisco's bullpen before the end of August. In the meantime, Bivens will take his spot with the big-league pitching staff. The 30-year-old, who is also a rookie, has been a bit fortunate he's allowed only five earned runs on 19 hits while walking six and fanning 18 in 22 2/3 innings over his 11 outings (one start).

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager will get a day off on Thursday in the series opener against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Field. Josh Smith will move to shortstop and will hit second for Texas against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober. Seager will retreat to the bench in this one for the first time since July 23. Since July 24, Seager has been hot with the lumber for the Rangers, batting .321 (27-for-84) with eight home runs, three doubles, 15 RBI and 15 runs scored in 20 starts. Fantasy managers will want to get him back in their lineups for Game 2 of the series against the visiting Twins on Friday. Smith, 27, has broken out in 2024 in his third year in the majors to the tune of a .273/.362/.430 slash line with a .792 OPS, 12 homers, 51 RBI and seven steals and makes for a nice DFS sleeper target against Ober.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) remains sidelined for Thursday's series opener against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Buxton was pulled from Monday's series opener against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field and will now miss his third straight game with a right-hip injury. The 30-year-old isn't dealing with a particularly significant injury, but the Twins haven't ruled out the oft-injured outfielder from landing on the injured list. If Buxton isn't able to rejoin the lineup this weekend, the Twins will most likely put him on the IL heading into next week. Austin Martin will make another start in center field on Thursday and will bat ninth for Minnesota against Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford. DFS gamers should have plenty of better outfield options to go with than Martin for Thursday's slate.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach will start on the bench for Thursday's series opener on the road against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field with a left-handed starter on the bump. Manuel Margot will start in left field and will bat leadoff for the Twins against Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford. This should come as no surprise to fantasy managers in deeper leagues that have Larnach rostered, as he's only been afforded 16 plate appearances all year against southpaws, with just two hits and six strikeouts against them. Margot is in an appealing lineup spot and has hit .275 (33-for-120) against left-handers on the year, but he only has four home runs and four stolen bases in 2024 and is still a low-upside DFS sleeper against the defending World Series champions.

The Colorado Rockies announced on Thursday that they optioned right-hander Riley Pint to Triple-A Albuquerque. Pint, a former fourth overall pick by the Rockies in 2016, was once a promising young starting pitching prospect, but he has failed to deliver so far. The 26-year-old has yet to start a game for the Rockies after debuting in 2023, and he's allowed nine earned runs on six hits (two homers) while walking eight and striking out seven in just 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen the last two years in the majors. Pint allowed four earned runs in two-thirds of an inning in his latest appearance on Wednesday against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks. He could return to Colorado's bullpen when rosters expand in September, but Pint is miles from fantasy relevance with 2024 winding down.