MLB Player News

Rivas will start at first base and bat third in Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Rivas will receive his fourth consecutive start after going 3-for-11 with a home run, a triple, two walks, three RBI and an additional run in his first three contests with the Pirates. He looks set to occupy the strong side of a platoon at first base with Connor Joe now that Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi are playing elsewhere in the aftermath of Tuesday's trade deadline.

Noda (jaw), who's been swinging a bat since late July, is slated to take live batting practice against Mason Miller (elbow) on Tuesday, the team's official site reports.

It's another key step for Noda as he works to return from the fractured jaw he suffered during pregame warmups July 19. Assuming all goes well with the live BP, the Athletics will map out a more definitive plan and timetable for the remainder of Noda's recovery later in the week. For the moment, the rookie remains within the approximate three-week return timetable he was given when first injured.

Steer is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

Steer will hit the bench for the series finale after he started in each of the last nine games while going 8-for-36 (.222 average) with three home runs and seven RBI. He'll give way to Stuart Fairchild in left field Sunday.

Raley (knee) will start in right field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Raley is back in action after he was on the bench for the Rays' previous two games with a bruised right knee. The fact that the Rays are deploying him in the outfield rather than at designated hitter suggests the team is comfortable with his health heading into a six-game week.

Guerrero is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

The Blue Jays haven't provided any word that Guerrero is dealing with an injury, so his absence from the lineup Sunday looks to be nothing more than a routine maintenance day. Guerrero had started in every game since May 19.

O'Hearn is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.

The lefty-hitting O'Hearn will hit the bench with southpaw Jose Quintana toeing the rubber for the Mets. Ryan Mountcastle will start at first base and bat second in O'Hearn's stead.

Vaughn is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Vaughn will head to the bench in what appears to be a rest day for the series finale after he started in each of the last seven games while going 8-for-25 with two home runs, one double, two runs and three RBI. Gavin Sheets will spell Vaughn at first base.

Steer started in left field and went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Nationals.

Steer made a second straight start in left field, as the Reds placed Jake Fraley on the injured list with a fractured toe. Steer is no stranger to left field, as he's often started there when Fraley sat against left-handers, but if he's called on to play more in the outfield, third base becomes a rotation of players. On Friday, Kevin Newman started at third followed by Saturday's starter Nick Senzel. Once Jonathan India (foot) is ready to return, Elly De La Cruz should start most games at the hot corner.

Freeman went 1-for-4 with one RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Padres.

Freeman didn't run much for the bulk of July, but he's now logged three steals over his last six games to get to 15 thefts on the year. He's hit .386 (44-for-114) since the start of July, even better than his .337 batting average for the season. The first baseman has added a 1.003 OPS, 22 home runs, 77 RBI, 95 runs scored, 40 doubles and two triples through 109 games.

Dixon cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.

Dixon was optioned to Triple-A in mid-July and has now lost his place on San Diego's 40-man roster after the organization's additions at the trade deadline. The 31-year-old has made 33 appearances with the Friars this year and has posted a .573 OPS in 79 at-bats.