France went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs in a win over the Orioles on Thursday.

France set the table nicely for teammates on the two occasions he reached safely, crossing the plate on Ryan Bliss's double-play groundout in the fifth and then scoring on J.P. Crawford's bases-clearing two-bagger in the seventh. The 29-year-old infielder has now reached safely in four straight games, but a lack of pop continues to weigh him down -- France has a sole extra-base hit (home run) over the 60 plate appearances he's logged across the 15 games he's played since returning from the injured list June 18.

Naylor went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-4 win over the White Sox.

In addition to his two hits, Naylor also got aboard on a fielder's choice and a catcher interference. The first baseman endured a 3-for-20 stretch over six games from June 22-28, but he's bounced back with a trio of multi-hit efforts over his last five contests. Overall, he's at a .243/.322/.497 slash line with 20 home runs, 63 RBI, 48 runs scored, 16 doubles and three stolen bases through 81 games.

Rice went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in a loss to the Reds on Thursday.

Rice hit out of the leadoff spot for the first time as a major leaguer and produced his first big-league home run with a 407-foot solo shot in the fifth inning. The catcher/first baseman has some intriguing qualities befitting of the leadoff role -- he's demonstrated good plate discipline throughout his professional career and has a .360 OBP along with a 7:8 BB:K through 42 plate appearances with the Yankees. Rice's power is an asset too; he hit 15 long balls in 60 minor-league games this season after going deep 20 times in the minors last year.

Diaz isn't in the Rays' lineup Thursday versus the Royals.

Diaz is getting a day off Thursday after going 1-for-9 in the first two games of the series versus the Royals. This is his first absence from the lineup since May 25. Isaac Paredes will shift over from third to first base, and Jose Caballero will enter the lineup at third in the ninth spot.

Mountcastle isn't in the Orioles' lineup for Thursday's game versus Seattle.

Mountcastle went 1-for-4 with an RBI during his first game back from an illness Wednesday, and he'll now get another day to rest against Bryce Miller and the Mariners. Ryan O'Hearn will move to first base as a result, allowing Heston Kjerstad to serve as the DH.

Vaughn is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Cleveland.

It appears to be a routine day off for Vaughn after making seven straight starts. The White Sox are giving Gavin Sheets a start at first base while Vaughn gets some rest.

Rice will start at first base and bat leadoff in Thursday's game versus the Reds.

The Yankees have dropped the struggling Anthony Volpe down to the No. 6 spot in the batting order and Rice will receive the first opportunity in Volpe's old slot. Rice is slashing .270/.378/.351 with a 6:7 K:BB in his first 14 contests in the majors. Certainly, it would be a major boost for his fantasy prospects if he can manage to stick at the top of the Yankees' lineup.

Santana is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers.

Santana started the previous 13 games but will head to the bench Thursday after he posted a .288/.351/.442 slash line with five doubles, two RBI and six runs during that span. Jose Miranda will move to first base while Trevor Larnach serves as the designated hitter, opening up left field for Manuel Margot against Detroit righty Kenta Maeda.

Casas (ribs) is likely two weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

The two-week estimate for the beginning of a rehab assignment pushes Casas' targeted return date to later in July. He's progressed to taking dry swings in the batting cage, having done so June 26 and again July 3. He's also tracked pitches against the Trajekt machine, which mimics MLB pitchers. The next big step for Casas will be hitting the ball in on-field batting practice.

Mountcastle (illness) will serve as Baltimore's designated hitter and bat fourth Wednesday against the Mariners, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

After missing two games while fighting off an illness, Mountcastle will now return to the starting nine against Logan Gilbert and the M's. Mountcastle had gone 4-for-17 with an RBI and a run scored in his last five games before getting sick.