The Atlanta Braves placed rookie right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver (oblique) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a strained left oblique muscle and recalled left-hander Ray Kerr from Triple-A Durham in order to start on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Smith-Shawver must have injured his oblique in his start against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday in which he threw 4 1/4 scoreless innings. It was the 21-year-old's first start of the 2024 season in the big leagues. Oblique injuries are usually tricky to come back from, so fantasy managers that picked Smith-Shawver up shouldn't be surprised if he's not ready to return in 15 days. And when he is ready to come back, the Braves may choose to send him back to Gwinnett. It's a tough break for the team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent infielder Joey Wendle to a major-league contract on Friday and optioned infielder Luke Williams to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. Wendle has landed with another team quickly after he was released by the Mets earlier this week after going 8-for-36 (.222) with no home runs, one RBI and three runs scored in limited playing time as a utility infielder. The former sixth-round pick in 2012 out of West Chester by the Cleveland Guardians has not been able to replicate his All-Star campaign in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Rays, when he hit .265/.319/.422 with 11 home runs, 54 RBI and eight stolen bases in 136 games played. Since then, he's hit .237/.273/.331 with five homers, 53 RBI and 20 steals in 231 games and will find playing time even more difficult to come by, although he could immediately see action at third base if Austin Riley (intercostal) lands on the injured list.

The Atlanta Braves recalled left-hander Ray Kerr from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, and he will make the start in the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on the road. It will be the first start of Kerr's major-league career, although he's appeared in 33 games the last three seasons in a relief role for Atlanta and the San Diego Padres, sporting a 4.57 ERA (4.42 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 13 walks and 48 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He's made four appearances in relief for the Braves in 2024, allowing three earned runs on nine hits (two homers) while walking none and striking out 10 in 9 1/3 frames. In his last outing on Monday against his former team, the Padres, Kerr went 3 1/3 innings and allowed two runs. Although it's a solid matchup, Kerr isn't going to go very deep into Friday's contest and should be avoided as a fantasy streamer.

Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford (hamstring) is expected to start a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend, perhaps as soon as Friday, which could make him an option to come off the injured list for the start of a series in Texas on Monday against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. Langford has been out for almost three weeks due to a strained hamstring, but as long as he doesn't encounter any setbacks this weekend, he should rejoin the Rangers early next week and return to being an everyday player. The Rangers could certainly use the offensive help after just getting swept in Philadelphia by the Phillies. Last year's No. 4 overall pick out of Florida has started his MLB career with just 26 hits in 116 at-bats (.224 average) and one homer, but his power upside from the right side of the plate is undeniable and he should be rostered in all fantasy leagues.UPDATE: Langford will begin his rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Round Rock.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Alexander Canario launched his fifth and sixth long balls of the season on Thursday evening. Through 24 games with Triple-A Iowa, the 24-year-old has posted a strong .286/.375/.571 slash line. Canario spent 13 games in the major leagues this spring and performed quite well in his limited opportunities with a .273 average. Since returning to Triple-A on May 9, Canario has been swinging an awfully hot bat with a .304/.373/.674 line with four home runs and one swiped bag. The young outfielder should get another shot in the majors later this summer but may have to wait for an injury to occur, as the Cubs have four capable starting outfielders on their roster in Cody Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, and Mike Tauchman. Canario could be worth an addition in NL-only formats if/when he rejoins Chicago.