
Cincinnati Reds infielder Jeimer Candelario (illness) remains out of the team's starting lineup on Wednesday in Seattle against the Mariners. Candelario was scratched from Tuesday's lineup, and it appears he's still under the weather. Santiago Espinal is manning the hot corner for the second straight day for the Reds and is hitting ninth against Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller. With an off day coming on Thursday, perhaps Candelario is feeling better on Friday for the start of a series against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. The 30-year-old switch-hitter has gotten off to a slow start in his first year in Cincinnati, going 11-for-58 (.190) with two home runs, seven RBI and seven runs scored. Espinal has never faced Miller in his career and should be avoided in DFS at the bottom of the Reds' lineup.

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (thumb) was scratched from Wednesday's starting lineup against the Chicago Cubs in the series finale. Moreno suffered a right-thumb contusion on a wild pitch on Monday night and was then scratched from Tuesday's starting lineup as well before appearing later in the extra-inning win as a defensive replacement. The 24-year-old appears to be not quite comfortable enough swinging a bat to return to action for the Snakes, so Tucker Barnhart will catch again and bat eighth against Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks. Fantasy baseball managers will want to check back on Thursday to see if Moreno is able to return to the field when the team faces the division-rival San Francisco Giants on the road.

St. Louis Cardinals rookie outfielder Victor Scott II will start on the bench again on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics. The 23-year-old is now starting on the bench for the second game in a row, with Michael Siani getting the start in center field and hitting ninth for the Cardinals against A's right-hander Paul Blackburn. Scott's defense has been strong for St. Louis in center field, but he's gone just 5-for-65 (.089) with three doubles, two RBI, two stolen bases and 14 strikeouts in his first 62 big-league plate appearances over 18 games. He could begin to lose more playing time in center field if he doesn't pick it up offensively, and Scott will eventually head back to the minors when Tommy Edman (wrist) and Dylan Carlson (shoulder) return.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Ben Lively (illness) has been reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's contest in Boston against the Red Sox. The Guardians signed the 32-year-old to a one-year contract this winter after he made his big-league return with the Reds in 2023. Lively spent three seasons in the KBO before returning to North America for the 2022 season but stayed at Triple-A with the Reds that year. He worked to a 5.38 ERA across 19 outings (12 starts) for the Reds last season and has made a pair of starts with Triple-A Columbus this season, posting a 3.24 ERA across 8 1/3 innings of work.


Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zack Littell will look to keep his fast start going on Wednesday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. Littell has yielded just two earned runs across his first three starts of the season spanning 15 1/3 innings, striking out 15 against five walks in that time. The 28-year-old has been solid for the Rays since the club claimed him from the Red Sox last season as he tossed a 3.93 ERA in 26 outings (14 starts) with the club last season before starting this season with a 1.17 ERA, albeit alongside a 3.90 SIERA. He takes on an Angels offense that is tied for 16th with a .314 wOBA and 19th with a 23.6% K% on the young season.
