Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) underwent an MRI exam and obtained three opinions on his injured right elbow, with no structural damage to be found. It's great news since he had Tommy John surgery in 2019. However, Greene won't be ready anytime soon. "It looks like I need about two weeks or so for the inflammation to go down, to go away," Greene said. "Then I'll start throwing again." There remains hope that Greene can return in 2024, but he's quickly running out of time to make an impact for fantasy managers still chasing a title. In a best-case scenario, he's likely to make only one or two more starts if he actually makes it back. The 25-year-old former second overall pick in 2017 was a first-time All-Star this year and has had a fantastic season, going 9-4 with a career-best 2.83 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and solid 27.8% strikeout rate in his 24 starts.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte is not playing on Wednesday evening against the visiting Oakland Athletics at Great American Ballpark. Marte continues to lose playing time in Cincy despite the fact that Jeimer Candelario (toe) remains on the injured list. Santiago Espinal will make another start at third and will bat sixth for the Reds against A's right-hander Osvaldo Bido. The 22-year-old Marte got a late start to 2024 while serving a suspension and has never found his footing at the plate, entering Wednesdays contest with an even .200 average (33-for-165) with four homers, 14 RBI, six stolen bases and 54 strikeouts in 46 games played. He has gone 7-for-21 with a homer and two RBI in his last six games, but fantasy managers haven't been able to use him in mixed leagues in 2024. The 29-year-old Espinal has exactly eight steals and eight homers in 267 at-bats in 2024 and is gaining steam in NL-only leagues.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (calf, hamstring) is penciled in to make his next scheduled start this Saturday against the Houston Astros. Ragans was pulled slightly early from his last start on Monday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians due to cramps in his left calf and hamstring. Manager Matt Quatraro downplayed the injury after the game, though, and the Royals were never really expecting the 26-year-old southpaw to miss his next turn through the rotation this weekend. While the matchup against the first-place Astros isn't the greatest by any means, Ragans has been a pretty reliable fantasy starter in 2024, going 10-8 with a 3.28 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 187 K's in 156 1/3 frames over his 27 starts. His lone start against the 'Stros came back on April 9, when he gave up three earned runs on 10 hits while walking one and fanning five in five innings in a no-decision.

The Cincinnati Reds moved outfielder Stuart Fairchild (thumb) to the 60-day injured list on Wednesday, effectively ending his season. The Reds also selected the contract of left-hander Evan Kravetz from Triple-A Louisville and optioned right-hander Casey Legumina to Louisville. A left-thumb sprain landed Fairchild on the 10-day IL on Tuesday, but now the 28-year-old outfielder will miss the final month of the season while needing to go under the knife. In a platoon role in Cincy's outfield in 2024 in his fourth big-league season, Fairchild wasn't a fantasy option in mixed leagues, slashing a weak .215/.286/.368 with a below-average .654 OPS, a career-high eight home runs, 30 RBI and a career-high 13 stolen bases in 94 games played. Fairchild remains more useful in real life for his defense than for his bat. Until Jake Fraley (knee) returns this weekend, rookie Rece Hinds could see more run for the Reds.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that the plan is to activate backup catcher Austin Barnes (toe) on Thursday, the first day he's eligible to come off the 10-day injured list. Barnes was placed on the IL with a fractured left toe last Monday, but he took simulated at-bats against minor-league pitching at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday and is ready to go. When the 34-year-old veteran backstop rejoins the big-league roster, Hunter Feduccia will most likely be sent back to the minors. Barnes has played in only 44 games for the Dodgers this year as Will Smith's backup and has provided next to nothing offensively, slashing .241/.318/.284 with a .602 OPS, one home run, two doubles, eight RBI and eight runs scored in 131 trips to the plate.