MLB Player News

Diaz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double Thursday against the Pirates.

Diaz provided the Rays with the insurance run they would ultimately need to win with a solo home run in the eighth inning. He now has eight long balls on the season, only six away from his career high. Diaz has had an impressive start to the campaign overall, as Thursday's effort marked his ninth multi-hit performance in his last 15 starts. Overall, he has a .327/.432/.606 line across 125 plate appearances.

Pratto went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Orioles.

Pratto has produced three multi-hit efforts in five games since being recalled from Triple-A Omaha last week. The first baseman is 9-for-18 with two RBI, a run scored and a 2:8 BB:K over that span, which has been enough to earn him consistent playing time between first base and right field. He'll likely be at first regularly going forward since the Royals are opting to make MJ Melendez a full-time outfielder for a while. Vinnie Pasquantino has also seen more time at designated hitter since Pratto's recall.

Pasquantino went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and three RBI in a 6-0 win over the Orioles on Wednesday.

Pasquantino got the scoring started for Kansas City with a solo homer to right field in the fourth inning, and he added an RBI double in both the sixth and seventh frames. It was the second three-hit performance for Pasquantino over his past three games, and Wednesday also marked the first time this season the slugger has racked up three extra-base hits in a single contest. Pasquantino has seen his season average jump from .260 to .292 in the three-game stretch, and he's slugged six homers while knocking in 14 runs on the campaign.

Guerrero went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Red Sox.

Guerrero gave Toronto a 2-0 lead with a 450-foot bomb to left field in the third inning, but Boston mounted a comeback to take the victory. The long ball broke an eight-game homerless streak for the star first baseman, and he had batted just .235 over that stretch. Guerrero nonetheless has registered a standout .317/.393/.512 slash line on the season, adding six homers, 18 RBI, 22 runs and two stolen bases.

Casas went 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Blue Jays.

Casas came into the contest mired in a prolonged slump during which he batted .098 (5-for-51) over 17 games. The first baseman showed some signs of progress against Toronto, producing his first three-hit game of the campaign and his first multi-hit effort since April 9. Casas has been losing playing time of late and is still slashing just .157/.297/.301 on the season, so he has some work to do to become a viable fantasy option.

Pratto will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

He'll pick up his fifth consecutive start Wednesday, and with the Royals optioning Franmil Reyes to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, the team should have everyday spots available at first base and designated hitter for both Pratto and Vinnie Pasquantino for the foreseeable future. Of course, how long Pratto retains steady playing time will likely hinge on how he performs at the plate. Thus far, the 24-year-old has gone 7-for-21 with a 2:12 BB:K over his first six games with Kansas City this season.

Mountcastle went 3-for-6 with two home runs, a double, five RBI and three runs scored in Tuesday's 11-7 win over the Royals.

Mountcastle kicked off the scoring for the Orioles with a two-run blast to left in the fourth. The 26-year-old now ranks fourth in the majors with 26 RBI and is tied for fourth with eight homers in 29 games thus far. Tuesday's performance raised his slash line to .256/.275/.504 as he's become a valuable fantasy first baseman in his third full-time season.

France (illness) went 0-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Athletics.

France missed two games while under the weather, and he couldn't do much in a contest that saw the Mariners' bats silenced until the eighth inning. The first baseman is now slashing .238/.336/.352 with a home run, 15 RBI, 17 runs scored, nine doubles and a stolen base through 122 plate appearances. He should be good to handle a near-everyday role going forward.

France (illness) is hitting third and playing first base against Oakland on Tuesday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

France was out of the starting lineup the last two games for Seattle while battling a stomach bug, but he was able to play in both contests as a pinch hitter, and he's well enough to hit third against Mason Miller and the Athletics on Tuesday.

Diaz (shoulder) is back in the Rays' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Diaz missed two games with a sore left shoulder but is back in there Tuesday following Monday's off day. He's at first base and batting leadoff against Roansy Contreras.