Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson (hand) will come off the 10-day injured list and return as a full-time DH on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports. Pederson suffered a fractured right hand on May 24 and has missed just over two months. The two-time All-Star joined the Rangers on a two-year, $37 million contract in the offseason, but it hasn't worked out at all so far. Pederson will come back and try to improve on a brutal .131/.269/.238 line with two home runs and 10 RBI over 146 plate appearances.

Texas Rangers outfielder Joc Pederson (hand) was able to take batting practice once again ahead of Wednesday's game against the Athletics. Pederson reportedly feels good after taking batting practice on back-to-back days. Now, the plan is for Pederson to join Double-A Frisco for a rehab assignment this weekend. The left-handed slugger has been out since late May due to a fractured right hand. He figures to be back in the mix by early August, but Pederson isn't someone that needs to be rostered in fantasy formats right now.

Texas Rangers outfielder Joc Pederson (hand) was able to take part in batting practice ahead of Tuesday's game against the Athletics. This is a good sign as Pederson has been out since late May due to a fractured right hand. The organization is hopeful Pederson can take batting practice again on Wednesday. After that, Pederson should be able to go on a minor league rehab assignment. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy didn't mention how long Pederson would stay in the minors. He figures to need a handful of games before being ready to play in Texas again. There's a decent chance that he's ready to play again by early August.

Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson (hand) is still two to three weeks away from taking batting practice, reports Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Pederson was initially expected to return shortly after the All-Star break, but now it seems he won't even be swinging a bat by then. He has been on the injured list since late May after suffering a broken hand when he was hit by a pitch. The injury and the slugger's delayed return don't have much of an impact for fantasy purposes, as he was batting just .131 with two home runs in 46 games before the injury. The 33-year-old will have to significantly turn his season around to make it back onto fantasy radars.

Texas Rangers outfielder Joc Pederson (hand) is reportedly three weeks away from returning to the lineup, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Pederson has been sidelined since late May due to a fractured right hand. The original timetable had Pederson returning before the All-Star break, but that doesn't seem like it's going to happen. Pederson figures to still need a rehab assignment as well before getting back into the mix. Pederson was struggling with a .131 batting average, two home runs, and six RBI before going on the injured list. He figures to get playing time at designated hitter against right-handed pitching once he's cleared to play. Given his struggles, Pederson isn't someone that needs to be stashed in fantasy formats right now.

Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson (hand) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hand fracture. In a corresponding move, the Rangers designated outfielder Kevin Pillar for assignment. This opened a spot on the roster for outfield prospect Alejandro Osuna. Pederson was hit by a pitch during Saturday's contest and was later diagnosed with a fracture. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Pederson to miss at least the next month of action. Before his injury, Pederson was having a slow start to the season, holding a .131/.269/.238 line. Pillar held an underwhelming .209/.209/.256 slash line with just two doubles across 20 games. With both Pederson sidelined and Pillar leaving the roster, Osuna should have a path to seeing everyday opportunities in the Texas starting nine.

Texas Rangers outfielder Joc Pederson (wrist) was hit by a pitch in the hand during Saturday's game against the Chicago White Sox. As a result, Pederson suffered a fractured right hand during Saturday's loss. Pederson will head to the injured list and is looking at a lengthy absence. It's unclear if Pederson is going to require surgery, but he'll likely miss the rest of the season if he does have surgery. Pederson wasn't bringing much to the plate this season anyway. Fantasy managers should feel safe dropping Pederson for another bat with a lengthy recovery process in front of him.

Texas Rangers outfielder Joc Pederson (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Athletics. Unsurprisingly, Pederson will get the night off against a left-handed starting pitcher as he has historically struggled against southpaws. His absence will mean Jonah Heim takes over as the designated hitter while Kyle Higashioka will be behind the plate against left-hander JP Sears. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups ahead of first pitch.

Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson (illness) has returned from the flu in spring training camp, according to the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant. Pederson missed a few days in spring training while being under the weather, but he's feeling better now and has rejoined the team for workouts in Arizona. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed slugger had a bounce-back season in 2024 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, slashing .275/.393/.515 with a .908 OPS, 23 long balls, 64 RBI, seven stolen bases and 62 runs scored in 367 at-bats. Pederson proved he can still be successful at the plate, mostly with his power, but there are clear drawbacks for fantasy managers. The primary one is that he almost never faces lefties -- he has a career .630 OPS against them -- and has become a full-time DH at this point in his career. That's unlikely to change with the move to Texas.

The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant reports that Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson (illness) is dealing with the flu at spring training. Pederson might miss a few days of workouts at camp this week, but the 32-year-old veteran lefty swinger should be back on the field later this week. The former 11th-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010 hit .275/.393/.515 with a career-best .908 OPS, 23 home runs, 64 RBI, a career-high seven stolen bases and 62 runs scored in 132 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks last year. At this point in his career, Pederson is basically a full-time DH and only starts against right-handed pitchers. He had a .534 slugging percentage and .923 OPS against right-handers in Arizona. In comparison, he has a .630 career OPS against lefties. Pederson's fantasy value takes a hit because he's limited to DH eligibility.

According to Justin Tasch of the New York Post, the New York Mets had interest in designated hitter Joc Pederson before he signed a two-year contract with the Texas Rangers. Last summer, Pederson performed very well being deployed on the strong side of a platoon with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pederson posted a .275/.393/.515 slash line with 23 home runs. He generated a strong .378 xwOBA and a 12.8% barrel rate, which were both among the top marks of qualified hitters. He also showed a great eye at the plate with a 12.2% walk rate and a slightly below-average 23.4% K rate. While the Mets could not get a deal done, this suggests that they are still actively looking for a power bat to operate as their designated hitter. Currently, Starling Marte or Jeff McNeil would be the team's DH, but that will likely change by Spring Training. If the Mets do target a power bat, he would have high RBI upside batting behind Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, outfielder/designated hitter Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers have agreed on a contract, pending a physical. Despite only playing in a strict platoon role in Arizona last summer, Pederson was very effective, posting a strong .275/.393/.515 slash line with 17 doubles, 23 home runs, 64 RBI, and four stolen bases. He hit for a .291 average across 41 plate appearances when facing southpaws. The 32-year-old hit the ball very hard at an impressive 46.2% hard-hit rate and 12.8% barrel rate, which placed him in the 79th and 87th percentiles, respectively. He also generated a .480 xSLG and a .378 xwOBA, which were among the top marks of qualified hitters. Fantasy managers should expect Pederson to have a similar role with Texas, as he will likely operate as the starting designated hitter against right-handed pitching.

Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Joc Pederson has declined the end of his mutual option and will test free agency, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The 32-year-old slugger enjoyed a fantastic season in the desert in 2024, posting a career-best .275/.393/.515 slash line with 23 home runs and 64 RBI. Even though Pederson was in a strict platoon, he was still a valuable fantasy contributor during the entire season. He boasted a stellar 12.8% barrel rate and 46.2% hard-hit rate under the hood. Fantasy managers should expect Pederson to continue to be deployed on the strong side of a platoon in 2025, but he should still be a popular target for power, given his excellent underlying metrics.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder/designated hitter Joc Pederson is out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the division-rival San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park with a left-hander on the mound. With Pederson starting on the bench versus a southpaw, like usual, first baseman Josh Bell will serve as the DH and will bat third against Giants lefty Blake Snell. Bell has only faced Snell three times in his career, but his one hit against him was a solo home run. Pederson has only faced left-handers 38 times all year, so by this point in the season, fantasy managers should be used to sitting him when the D-backs are facing a left-hander. He's gone 7-for-29 (.241) against southpaws with only one of his 21 home runs on the season. The veteran lefty slugger has been cold of late, batting .200 (4-for-20) with a homer, two RBI and eight strikeouts in his last eight games since Aug. 25.

Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Joc Pederson went deep in Monday's series-opening win over the hosting Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park. Pederson lined a solo home run off Marlins right-hander Adam Oller to the second deck in right field, making it a 5-1 lead for the D-backs in the fifth inning of Monday's victory over Miami. The 32-year-old veteran slugger may not be a high-end mixed-league fantasy contributor due to his lack of playing time against left-handed pitching, but over his last 24 games, he's hitting a strong .365 (23-for-63) with seven homers, 19 RBI, and 16 runs scored as Arizona's primary DH against right-handed pitching.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder/designated hitter Joc Pederson is out of the starting lineup on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field despite a right-hander being on the mound. It appears to just be a day of rest for the 32-year-old veteran left-handed hitter. With Pederson on the bench, Randal Grichuk will serve as Arizona's DH and will hit sixth against Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen. Grichuk is typically only a DFS play when he's in the lineup against left-handed hurlers. The 33-year-old veteran has hit just .229 (16-for-70) with three of his four home runs this year against righties. He's never faced Rasmussen in his career. Pederson is having a strong first year in the desert and is currently slashing .287/.395/.545 with a career-best .940 OPS, 19 homers and 55 RBI in 101 games played.

Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Joc Pederson smacked a pinch-hit go-ahead homer Monday night in a 7-6 extra-inning victory over the Cleveland Guardians. Pederson entered the game in the top of the eighth inning with a runner on first with one out. Pinch-hitting for Kevin Newman, Pederson took advantage of a full-count hanging curveball to give the Diamondbacks the lead. The veteran started the game on the bench with a southpaw on the mound, entered the contest in a big moment, and came up clutch for the Snakes. The lefty slugger is scorching hot at the plate in August with a 4-for-10 line with three home runs and seven RBI. Despite the platoon, he is having one of his best seasons ever, and his .285 batting average would be the highest of his career if the season ended today. Despite being in a platoon, Pederson is putting up enough numbers in the limited playing time he's receiving to make him worth rostering in most leagues.

With a left-hander on the mound for Monday's contest against the hosting Cleveland Guardians, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielders Joc Pederson and Alek Thomas will both get the day off. Ketel Marte will serve as the designated hitter and will bat leadoff, while Jake McCarthy will start in center field and will hit sixth versus Guardians lefty Logan Allen. Kevin Newman draws into the lineup at the keystone and will hit eighth for the Snakes. Pederson only has seen 25 plate appearances against lefties in 2024, so fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised that he's not starting on Monday. Against righties, though, he's been solid, hitting .289 (69-for-239) with 16 of his 17 home runs on the year. Thomas has only been afforded 81 at-bats this year due to injuries and is hitting a lowly .210 (17-for-81) with three homers, 17 RBI and three steals. He's not an option for fantasy managers in mixed leagues.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder/designated hitter Joc Pederson and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo are not in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the hosting Kansas City Royals with left-hander Cole Ragans toeing the rubber. Randal Grichuk is serving as the DH for Arizona and will hit fifth, while Kevin Newman is at the 6 and batting eighth versus Ragans. Pederson has only 21 plate appearances against lefties in 2024 and is hitting .177 (3-for-17) against them with one of his 13 homers on the year, so it's no surprise he's on the bench to kick off the week. Grichuk and Newman have both faced Ragans just once in their career and have come away hitless. Grichuk hasn't displayed much power in 155 at-bats in Arizona in 2024, but he's hitting an impressive .284, including a .300/.363/.420 slash line against southpaws with a homer and 17 RBI in 100 at-bats.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder/designated hitter Joc Pederson will start on the bench for the start of the second half of the season on Friday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs and left-hander Justin Steele. Veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk will serve as Arizona's DH and will hit fifth against Steele in the series opener. Pederson is having a fine season in his first year in the desert, but he's hitting just .125 (2-for-16) with one of his 13 home runs on the season against left-handed pitching, so he'll give way to Grichuk in this one. Grichuk is batting a very respectable .279 (41-for-147) with limited playing time for the Snakes in 2024 but has just three home runs and 21 RBI, making him a low-upside DFS play for Friday's slate. He's gone 28-for-95 (.295) with one of his three homers against southpaws this season.