Boston Red Sox middle infielder David Hamilton is starting at second base and is batting in the two-hole for the Red Sox on Thursday against the hosting Miami Marlins and right-hander Kyle Tyler. Hamilton was on the bench for the third time in the last four games for the BoSox on Wednesday, so fantasy managers that have been relying on him for his speed have to be thankful that he's back in there on the Fourth of July. The 26-year-old is hitting just .171 (6-for-35) with a homer, double, four RBI, two walks, seven strikeouts and seven stolen bases in 13 games (nine starts) since June 14. Overall, though, Hamilton has been a bright spot for Boston and for fantasy managers and he's seen plenty of playing time with both Trevor Story and Vaughn Grissom hurt this year. He's mainly been helpful for his speed with 21 steals in 57 games in his second big-league season.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn isn't in the team's starting lineup on Thursday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians. Gavin Sheets will get the nod at first base and will bat cleanup for the Pale Hose versus Guardians right-hander Ben Lively. Vaughn has been a below-average hitter for fantasy managers in his fourth year in the big leagues. He's batting .244 (75-for-308) with a career-low .696 OPS, 11 home runs, 41 RBI and 32 runs scored in 81 games played for the worst team in baseball. On the bright side, he's currently in the midst of a six-game hitting streak where he's gone 8-for-21 (.381) with two homers, two doubles and six RBI. Sheets is mostly useful for his power and is hitting .241 (52-for-216) with six of his seven homers coming off right-handers in 2024.

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (forearm) has been scratched from Thursday's lineup against the visiting Houston Astros. Rookie Leo Jimenez will make the start at shortstop in Bichette's place and bat eighth against Astros left-hander Framber Valdez. Rookie Spencer Horwitz will draw into the lineup at second base and bat fifth. Bichette is dealing with a right-forearm contusion after being hit by a pitch in Wednesday's contest versus Houston. The 26-year-old is a little sore, but it's not a serious injury and he should be considered day-to-day. There's a good chance he'll be back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Seattle Mariners. This will be Jimenez's first action in the big leagues since being called up earlier this week.

The Toronto Blue Jays reinstated catcher Danny Jansen from the paternity list on Thursday and optioned catcher Brian Serven to Triple-a Buffalo in a corresponding move. Jansen is serving as the designated hitter and is batting in the two-hole for the Jays on Thursday against the visiting Houston Astros and left-hander Framber Valdez. The 29-year-old backstop missed the first three games of the series against Houston but will return for the series finale on the Fourth of July. Injuries have limited Jansen to 163 at-bats in 2024, and he's hitting just .227/.316/.399 with a .714 OPS, five home runs and 16 RBI. He's been a league-average hitter as he shares playing time with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Jansen isn't going to hit for average, but he has decent pop at the weak catcher position when he's healthy.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu will get a breather on Fourth of July on Thursday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Oswaldo Cabrera will get the start at the hot corner and will hit eighth in the order against Reds right-hander Frankie Montas. LeMahieu will get the day off after starting in each of the team's last five games. The 35-year-old got a late start to the 2024 season due to an injury and he hasn't yet found a groove at the plate with the Yankees. In his first 92 at-bats, LeMahieu has only 17 hits (.185 average) with no home runs, nine RBI and eight runs scored. The three-time All-Star has never really hit for power in his career -- he had a career-high 26 homers in 2019 -- and his batting average has fallen every year since he won a batting title in 2020. Cabrera brings little DFS appeal with a .234 average, five homers and 26 RBI on the year.