Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong is not in the team's starting lineup on Friday for the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Fenway Park. Danny Jansen will do the catching for right-hander Brayan Bello and will hit seventh against Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson. Predictably, Wong has come back down to Earth since the All-Star break after a scorching first half. The 28-year-old backstop has gone hitless in 11 plate appearances with two strikeouts in his last four contests and is hitting only .236 (25-for-106) with three homers, seven RBI, 12 RBI and 33 strikeouts in 28 games since the All-Star break. Wong is still slashing a strong .286/.340/.426 on the year with 11 homers and 44 RBI as Boston's primary catcher. Jansen has gone 9-for-35 (.257) with two homers and five RBI in his first 13 games for the Red Sox.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is getting the day off on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels at Rogers Centre. Guerrero will get his first day of rest in the second half of the season amidst a breakout offensively since the All-Star break. The Blue Jays have used Vladdy twice at third base this week and also as the designated hitter to get rookie Spencer Horwitz's bat into the lineup at first base. Horwitz is back at first and batting third on Friday, with George Springer serving as the DH and batting leadoff, and rookie Addison Barger at third and in the eight-hole against Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz. The 25-year-old Guerrero has been red-hot since the All-Star break, slashing an incredible .400/.479/.825 with a 1.304 OPS, 12 homers, 13 doubles, a triple, 26 RBI and 28 runs scored in 32 games. He'll be back in action on Saturday against the Halos.

The Boston Red Sox moved left-hander James Paxton (calf) to the 60-day injured list on Friday, likely ending his season due to a partial calf tear. The Red Sox also selected the contract of left-hander Joely Rodriguez from Triple-A Worcester and optioned right-hander Greg Weissert to Worcester in other moves. The 35-year-old Paxton was initially placed on the 15-day IL on Aug. 12, but even at that time, it was pretty obvious that he wasn't going to have enough time to make a return in 2024. Paxton began the year with the Los Angeles Dodgers and made 18 starts with them. He's gone 9-3 this year but with a 4.40 ERA (4.79 FIP), a 1.44 WHIP and a 73:50 K:BB in 100 1/3 innings over 21 starts. Not only has his strikeout rate dropped under 20% this year, but he's also sporting a career-worst 11.4% walk rate. Fantasy managers holding him in deeper leagues can let go.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic will sit for the second straight game on Friday night against the division-rival Washington Nationals at Truist Field with left-hander on the mound. Ramon Laureano will make the start in left field and will bat fifth against Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore. The Braves haven't let Kelenic face any left-handed starters in the second half of the season, and that's not going to change now that Michael Harris II is back from his hamstring injury. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has gone 14-for-63 (.222) against lefties in his first year in Atlanta with just one of his 13 home runs on the season. Laureano will make yet another start for Atlanta, but his playing time could dry up now that Jorge Soler is back from his hamstring injury. In his 37 games for the Braves, Laureano is hitting .284 (29-for-102) with six homers and 12 RBI. He's never faced Gore in his career.

Atlanta Braves outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler (hamstring) is back in right field and is batting second against the division-rival Washington Nationals and left-hander MacKenzie Gore at Truist Park on Friday night. Soler is returning to the starting lineup after missing more than a week with a hamstring injury. Fantasy managers in need of power will want to get Soler back into their lineups this weekend. It's been a down year for the right-handed slugger, but he has gone 12-for-46 (.261) with four home runs and 11 RBI in his first 15 games back with Atlanta after being acquired from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline. Soler has a homer and two RBI in two career at-bats against Gore. He has hit .280 (28-for-100) on the year against lefties, but only with five of his 16 total home runs.