Chicago White Sox catching prospect Kyle Teel is doing the catching and is batting sixth in his major-league debut on Friday against the division-rival Kansas City Royals and right-hander Seth Lugo. Fellow catching prospect Edgar Quero will head to the bench, and he figures to lose playing time going forward if Teel asserts himself immediately with the lumber. Quero is still searching for his first homer while batting .256/.343/.306 in 121 at-bats. Teel, the club's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, had an .886 OPS with eight home runs and seven stolen bases at Triple-A Charlotte to earn the big-league promotion. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter was the former 14th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2023 out of Virginia. Teel hits from the left side and has a higher offensive ceiling than most catchers, making him worth an immediate waiver-wire pickup in single-year fantasy leagues.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (head) is back in center field and is hitting seventh for Friday's contest against the division-rival Kansas City Royals and right-hander Seth Lugo. Robert was given Tuesday and Wednesday off for a mental break. He also missed Thursday's contest after being hit in the head during batting practice on a ricochet. The 27-year-old is back now, though, and will be hoping to break out of his slump against a pitcher that he hasn't recorded a hit against in seven career at-bats. Outside of his league-best 21 stolen bases, the Cuban slugger and former All-Star has been a disappointment, hitting just .177 (34-for-192) with five home runs, 20 RBI and 24 runs scored in 55 games played. Robert has a strikeout rate just shy of 33% in his last 25 games. Perhaps fantasy managers will want to keep him benched until he shows signs of turning it around.

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor (hand, shoulder) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Cincinnati against the Reds at Great American Ballpark. Rookie Tim Tawa is starting at first base and will hit eighth against Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo. Naylor was pulled from Thursday's come-from-behind win over the Atlanta Braves with soreness in both his hand and shoulder, and the D-backs will hold him out a day later against a left-handed pitcher. The 27-year-old is being considered day-to-day and could be back as early as Game 2 of the series in Cincy on Saturday. Tawa, who has never faced Lodolo in his career, will be a low-upside DFS dart throw as a sleeper on Friday. He's hitting just .218 (24-for-110) in a utility role and has six home runs and six RBI in his first 40 major-league games.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz and second baseman Gavin Lux are both out of the starting lineup for Friday's contest against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. De La Cruz remains on the bereavement list after his sister passed away earlier this week, while Lux will sit with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound. Matt McLain is moving to shortstop and will bat eighth, while Garrett Hampson is starting at second base and batting ninth against Rodriguez. McLain has never faced E-Rod, while Hampson has a hit and an RBI against him in just three career at-bats. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect De La Cruz to return to Cincy's lineup until Monday's series finale in Cleveland against the Guardians. Lux has hit well in his first season with the Reds, but he's batting just .133 (4-for-30) against lefties in 25 games.

The Washington Nationals optioned rookie outfielder Daylen Lile to Triple-A Rochester on Friday and activated outfielder Jacob Young (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move, according to the team. Lile, the team's No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will head back to the minors for more seasoning after going 6-for-31 (.194) with three doubles, a triple, two RBI and four runs scored in his first 11 major-league contests. With some of Washington's outfielders banged up, Lile was playing nearly every day. It was good experience for the 22-year-old youngster, but he'll now return to Rochester and hope for another promotion late in the season. The former second-rounder in 2021 will return to a .361/.432/.514 slash line in 18 games played for Rochester. Lile could develop 15-homer pop in time and certainly has the speed to steal 20-plus bases.