Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Cade Horton continued his strong start to the Triple-A regular season on Wednesday during their match against St. Paul. In this start, Horton tossed five innings of one-run ball and allowed just one hit. He served up three free passes and struck out six. Over his first 12 1/3 innings of work (three starts), the former seventh overall pick has held a strong 1.46 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP. He has allowed just five hits but has struggled with his command as he has held a 10:18 BB:K. Last summer, the Oklahoma product flashed elite upside at Double-A but could never find his footing during his brief taste of Triple-A as he battled numerous injuries. However, the right-hander is fully healthy and is settling in quite well with the Iowa Cubs. With Justin Steele (elbow) out for the season, Horton should play a role in the rotation in the second half.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the visiting Seattle Mariners at Great American Ball Park. Gavin Lux is starting at the keystone and will hit fifth against Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock. McLain recently returned from the injured list and went 1-for-6 with an RBI, two runs scored, three walks and a strikeout in his first two games back. The Reds will give the 25-year-old former first-rounder a breather before a weekend series in Baltimore against the Orioles that starts on Friday. As long as he stays healthy, McLain will operate as Cincy's primary second baseman and should be relevant in mixed fantasy leagues for his power/speed combination. Lux, also a former first-rounder, is off to a .276 (16-for-58) start for the Reds but is still searching for his first home run.

The Cincinnati Reds announced on Thursday that they placed infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) on the 10-day injured list with lower-back inflammation and recalled infielder Noelvi Marte from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. With Encarnacion out, Jeimer Candelario will move to first base and Santiago Espinal will start at the hot corner on Thursday against the visiting Seattle Mariners. Although Encarnacion-Strand had an RBI double on Wednesday, he started the season going 9-for-57 (.158) with two home runs, five RBI and 13 strikeouts in 15 games played. Hopefully, he'll look better when he gets over his back injury, but it's unclear if he'll have a short stay on the IL. Espinal figures to benefit the most from a playing-time perspective at third base, but Marte could share starts with him at the hot corner.UPDATE: CEH will receive an epidural injection to calm his back down.

Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz and first baseman Josh Bell are out of the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Riley Adams is behind the dish and is batting eighth, while Nathaniel Lowe is starting at first base and is hitting cleanup for the Nats against Pirates left-hander Andrew Heaney. James Wood is the designated hitter and is batting second. Ruiz is getting his second day off of the season after starting strong with a .317 average (20-for-63) with two homers and 11 RBI. The 26-year-old should be back for Friday's series opener in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. Bell will get the day off against a lefty after going just 3-for-27 with a homer in the last seven games. Adams has gone hitless in just two career at-bats against Heaney, while Lowe has two hits in both of his at-bats against Heaney.

After starting the 2025 season as the regular designated hitter due to right-triceps soreness, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds is making his first start in right field and will hit second in Thursday's series finale against the Washington Nationals and right-hander Trevor Williams. With Reynolds feeling good enough to return to the field, it should open up more at-bats for veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen at DH moving forward. Fantasy managers will certainly be hoping that the Reynolds returning to the outfield means that he's getting healthier. His sore triceps might have played a big part in his underwhelming start to the season, as he enters Thursday's contest with a .203/.268/.338 slash line, two home runs, eight RBI and seven runs scored in his first 74 at-bats. The 30-year-old switch-hitter has hit .250 in eight career at-bats against Williams.