Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Diaz (groin) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a groin injury on Sunday. The Rays continue to call him day-to-day, so the expectation is that Diaz will return this weekend. They haven't decided to use the retroactive injured list, so the assumption is that Diaz is trending in the right direction. In the meantime, Luke Raley will cover first base and bat seventh versus righty Adrian Houser on Friday.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco and infielder Yandy Diaz (groin) are not playing on Thursday against right-hander Tylor Megill and the New York Mets. Franco is getting his first day off this month, while Diaz will take another day off to rest his injured groin. Taylor Walls is starting at the 6 for Franco and is hitting sixth, while Luke Raley is handling first-base duties and is batting seventh in the lineup against Megill. When they are on the field, both Franco and Diaz are must-start fantasy players. Franco is hitting .288 (49-for-170) this year with seven homers, 23 RBI, 14 steals and 26 runs. Meanwhile, Diaz leads the league with a .321 batting average (45-for-140), .429 on-base percentage and 1.021 OPS in 39 games played.

Tampa Bay Rays hot-hitting infielder Yandy Diaz (groin) didn't play Tuesday and is unlikely to play Wednesday against the New York Mets, but he's happy to not be on the injured list after he left early on Sunday against the New York Yankees due to left-groin tightness. Diaz was feeling better on Tuesday and was available to pinch hit, and he hopes to return to the lineup on Thursday. The 31-year-old is currently hitting .321 with a team co-leading 10 home runs, 24 RBI, a .429 on-base percentage (third in the majors) and 1.022 OPS (also third). On top of it, he's on a career-high-tying 12-game hitting streak. Hopefully, Diaz will be able to pick up where he left off for his fantasy managers if he returns on Thursday.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Diaz (groin) left the game early on Sunday in the first inning with what the team called left-groin tightness. He underwent an MRI exam on Monday, and the results were encouraging enough that the Rays consider him day-to-day. It's great news for Tampa and Diaz's fantasy managers, but there's still a good chance he won't play in Tuesday's series opener against the New York Mets. Diaz has been a key piece in real life and fantasy, as he's hitting .321 with a share of the team lead in homers with 10, 24 RBI, a .429 on-base percentage (second in the majors) and a 1.022 OPS. He's also currently riding a career-high-tying 12-game hitting streak. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their lineups when he returns.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Diaz (groin) was forced to exit early during Sunday's victory over the New York Yankees. The right-handed slugger slipped at third base and re-aggravated his groin issue. The team is uncertain of the severity of the injury, so Diaz will undergo an MRI on Monday. Hopefully, it's only a day-to-day issue and Diaz can avoid a trip to the injured list. However, fantasy managers should find an alternative option in case Diaz is forced to miss time.

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/third baseman Yandy Diaz launched his 10th home run of the year, collecting four RBI and two runs scored despite a shootout loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday. With the long ball, the 31-year-old eclipsed last year's total in that department (9) in 334 fewer at-bats. Diaz is enjoying an incredible season as Tampa Bay's leadoff man, leading the American League in runs scored and on-base percentage. He's doing more than just setting the table, though, by also leading the majors in average exit velocity at a blistering 95.7 miles per hour clip. The infielder is slashing a gaudy .317/.425/.583 this season, perched atop both the first baseman and third baseman rankings in mixed roto leagues so far.

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (shoulder) is back in the team's starting lineup on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, starting at first base and batting leadoff against right-hander Roansy Contreras. The 31-year-old leadoff man missed the team's last two games with soreness in his left shoulder, but it was a minor issue and he'll be back for the first-place Rays on Tuesday. Diaz should be returned to starting fantasy lineups in all single-year formats, as he's hitting a cool .319/.420/.585 with a 1.005 OPS, four doubles, seven home runs, 16 RBI and 23 runs scored in 112 plate appearances and 26 games played. He's on pace to shatter his previous career-high of 14 home runs set back in 2019 in his first year in Tampa.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Diaz (shoulder) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The 31-year-old left early during Friday's game due to left shoulder soreness. Manager Kevin Cash said afterwards that Diaz is fine going forward, but would likely sit out on Saturday. That being said, fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned with Diaz missing this game. It sounds like a minor issue, so Diaz should be back in the lineup for Sunday's series finale.

Updating a previous report, Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Diaz (shoulder) is considered fine after leaving Friday's game early against the Chicago White Sox with a sore left shoulder in the fifth inning, according to manager Kevin Cash. Diaz injured his shoulder on a slide at home plate in the first inning. He's considered day-to-day and will get the day off on Saturday to rest, so fantasy managers will want to remove him from their lineups. The 31-year-old leadoff man is now hitting .319 on the season and is a great source of average, on-base percentage and runs scored for fantasy managers moving forward. Get ready to get him back into your lineups on Sunday.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Diaz (shoulder) left Friday's game early against the Chicago White Sox with left-shoulder soreness. Diaz left the contest in the fifth inning and was replaced by infielder Taylor Walls. The 31-year-old went 1-for-2 with a run scored in the game before departing and is now hitting a strong .319 on the young season. Until we know more about Diaz's shoulder injury, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. There's a good chance he won't be in the starting lineup on Saturday. Entering Friday's game, the Cuban slugger was slashing .315/.407/.576 with three doubles, seven home runs, 16 RBI and 21 runs scored in 24 games played. Diaz has been very valuable in fantasy hitting atop Tampa's potent lineup.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Diaz (shoulder) is back in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox. There was some concern that Diaz would miss this game after injuring his shoulder on Tuesday. Manager Kevin Cash said Diaz was fine afterwards, so it appears Diaz avoided serious injury. He'll bat leadoff and serve as the designated hitter against left-hander Chris Sale on Wednesday. Fantasy managers can safely get Diaz back in their lineups.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that corner infielder Yandy Diaz "is fine" after leaving Tuesday's contest early with a left shoulder injury, according to Marc Topkin. He won't need anytime on the bench, as he'll be in Wednesday's lineup. Diaz is showing off his bat at the plate so far this season, slashing .303/.373/.415 with three long balls, seven RBI, and 12 runs atop the Rays lineup. That's great news for fantasy managers, as they'll keep getting great batting average and run production from the 31-year-old, and it seems like he's tapping into his raw power more than before.

Tampa Bay Rays corner infielder Yandy Diaz (hand) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Monday against the Detroit Tigers and right-hander Miguel Diaz. Diaz is starting at third base and hitting leadoff for the Rays. Diaz was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the spring game on Friday, and this will be just his third Grapefruit League game after missing some time with a hip-flexor injury. X-rays on the 31-year-old's hand came back negative, so he should be fine for Opening Day unless he gets unlucky and suffers a third spring injury. Diaz doesn't hit for much power, but he makes a lot of hard contact and doesn't strike out often. He's a strong target in on-base-percentage leagues while hitting atop Tampa's lineup.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that X-rays on corner infielder Yandy Diaz's hand came back negative on Friday after he left the Grapefruit League game after his first at-bat when he was hit by a pitch on his hand/wrist. Diaz was returning from a hip-flexor injury on Friday before getting hurt again right away. The injury doesn't sound very serious, though, so hopefully the 31-year-old can get back into game action soon as he prepares for Opening Day in a few weeks. Diaz hit .296/.401/.423 with a career-high .824 OPS, nine home runs, 57 RBI, 71 runs scored and three stolen bases in 558 plate appearances and 137 games for the Rays in 2022. He should continue to hit atop Tampa's batting order and is a fine source of runs, on-base percentage and batting average in fantasy.

Tampa Bay Rays corner infielder Yandy Diaz (hip, hand, wrist) returned to the Grapefruit League lineup on Friday against the Atlanta Braves after dealing with a hip-flexor injury, but he left the game after his first at-bat after getting hit by a pitch on his hand/wrist area. It's a tough break for the 31-year-old, but fantasy managers will need to check back later to find out the severity of his latest injury and whether it could keep him out for Opening Day later this month. Diaz has only played in one spring training game so far due to his hip injury, so he'll need plenty more at-bats to get ready for the 2023 regular season. The contact-oriented hitter is a great source of on-base percentage and batting average in fantasy when he's healthy.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said corner infielder Yandy Diaz (hip) will play first base in a Grapefruit League game on Friday against the Atlanta Braves after missing some time in camp with a hip-flexor injury. The 31-year-old has missed almost a week of spring training action, but he'll be back in action this weekend and should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback in the next few weeks. Diaz doesn't have a ton of power for fantasy managers, but he hits atop Tampa's lineup, gets on base frequently, makes a lot of hard contact and is an everyday player. He signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension with the Rays back in January.

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (hip) is sidelined by a hip flexor injury and likely won't play in a Grapefruit League game until after next Wednesday's off day. Meanwhile, infielder Taylor Walls, who has been out with an oblique strain since before the start of spring training, is "progressing well," according to manager Kevin Cash. He started "very minimal" baseball activities Thursday. The 31-year-old Diaz hasn't played since Monday in camp. As long as no setbacks pop up, he should have time to be ready for Opening Day at the end of this month. Diaz rarely strikes out and gets on base often. Although he hits the ball hard, he doesn't put the ball in the air enough to be a big-time power threat for the Rays or fantasy managers.

The Tampa Bay Rays finalized a three-year, $24 million contract extension with infielder Yandy Diaz on Tuesday. Diaz will earn $6 million in 2023, $8 million in 2024 and $10 million in 2025. The Rays will also have a $12 million option for 2026 that doesn't include a buyout. The 31-year-old Cuban corner infielder should be a solid source of runs, average and on-base percentage near the top of Tampa's lineup again in 2023. He finished his sixth year in the majors and fourth with the Rays in 2022 by slashing .296/.401/.423 with a career-high .824 OPS, nine home runs, 57 RBI, 71 runs scored and three stolen bases in 137 games. Diaz is not flashy by any means and doesn't have a ton of power, but he's a nice complementary piece for fantasy managers as a corner infield option.

The Tampa Bay Rays and infielder Yandy Diaz are closing in on a three-year, $24 million contract extension on Saturday, according to sources. The deal would include an option for a fourth year. Diaz battled through nagging injuries in 2022 but still managed to play a career-high 137 games in his sixth season in the big leagues, and he finished with a strong .296/.401/.423 slash line with a career-high .824 OPS, nine home runs, 57 RBI, 71 runs scored and career-high three stolen bases in 558 plate appearances. The 31-year-old won't supply fantasy managers with much power (career-high 14 homers in 2019), but he makes a ton of contact and gets on base frequently. Diaz had more walks (78) than strikeouts (60) and will need to continue making frequent hard contact to keep his average high.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Diaz is starting at third base and is hitting leadoff in Game 1 of the American League Wild-Card Series on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Shane Bieber. Diaz dealt with a shoulder injury for just over a week in the final month of the season, but he did go 4-for-8 with three RBI and two runs scored in his final four games of the regular season heading into Friday's first playoff game. The 31-year-old Cuban has hit a strong .296/.401/.423 with nine home runs, 57 RBI, 71 runs scored and three stolen bases in 473 at-bats in 2022.