MLB Player News

Polanco is not in the lineup Tuesday against the White Sox.

Polanco has really been pressing at the plate lately, as he holds just a .375 OPS over the past 14 games. He'll get a night off as a result, with the hot-hitting Eduardo Escobar picking up a start in his stead.

Andrus went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run in Monday's 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays.

Andrus has been stuck in a minor power outage in June with only three extra-base hits (and no home runs) in 14 games, but thanks to his stellar first two months of the season, he's still sitting on a career-best .442 slugging percentage. Even if Andrus fails to recover the power production he displayed earlier this season, he'll be able to offset that deficiency with the above-average contributions he provides in batting average, runs and stolen bases.

Semien (wrist) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with High-A Stockton on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Semien was able to get through batting practice over the weekend without a hitch, clearing the way for him to return to game action later in the week. Seeing as the 26-year-old has been sidelined for most of the season, he'll likely need at least a few rehab games before rejoining the Athletics. If he continues to progress without any setbacks, Semien could return to the majors sometime in early July.

Torres was diagnosed Monday with a torn UCL in his left elbow after meeting with a physician and will require season-ending Tommy John surgery.

It's a major blow for the Yankees' top prospect, who was expected to provide the big club with a lift in the second half of the season, when he likely would have been called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Instead, Torres' big-league debut will have to wait until 2018, as he'll now turn his attention to healing up before spring training arrives. With Torres out of the picture for the rest of the season, Chase Headley will gain some extra security in his role as the team's everyday third baseman. The 20-year-old was hitting .309/.406/.457 in 96 plate appearances since being promoted from Double-A Trenton to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in late May.

Torres (elbow) was placed on the 7-day disabled list at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, Conor Foley of The Scranton Times-Tribune reports.

Torres was able to avoid structural damage to his elbow after X-rays following Saturday's game determined he had suffered a hyperextension, but the Yankees have yet to release a timetable for his return beyond ruling him out for at least the next week. The injury could very well delay any promotion of the Yankees' top prospect until after the All-Star break, affording incumbent third baseman Chase Headley some time to get dialed in at the plate and build up some job security. Torres, 20, is hitting .309/.406/.457 in International League play since being promoted from Double-A Trenton just under a month ago.

Merrifield is out of the lineup Sunday against the Angels, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Merrifield will take a seat after starting in the Royals' previous 21 games in what amounts to little more than a rest day. Ramon Torres will replace Merrifield at the keystone and assume his usual spot atop the lineup.

Motter is out of the lineup Sunday against the Rangers, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Though he'll hit the bench Sunday while Tyler Smith mans shortstop, Motter should continue to serve as the primary option at the position until Jean Segura (hamstring) comes off the disabled list. With Segura set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, his return to the Mariners could come before the end of the week. That would likely spell the end to Motter's run of everyday at-bats, though the 27-year-old's defensive versatility will make him one of the top candidates to enter the lineup if one of the team's other regulars should succumb to an injury at some point.

Polanco will start at shortstop and lead off Sunday against the Indians, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

It will likely only be a one-game stay at the top of the order for Polanco since Twins manager Paul Molitor is opting to give normal leadoff man Brian Dozier the day off in the series finale. Until he's able to boost his .299 on-base percentage to a more impressive level, Polanco should settle into a bottom-third spot in the order more often than not.

Altuve went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Red Sox.

Altuve snapped out of five-game funk and has multiple hits in three consecutive games, a stretch in which he has seven hits in 10 at-bats with a homer, four doubles and five runs. Altuve's 85 hits this season put him tied for fifth in MLB.

Torres suffered a hyperextended left elbow Saturday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and will undergo further evaluation Monday.

X-rays were negative, but he could still end up hitting the minor-league DL with the injury. The expectation has been that Torres is on the fast track to replacing Chase Headley at the hot corner at some point this season, though a significant injury would likely change his short-term trajectory. The 20-year-old shortstop was hitting .304/.404/.443 with two home runs, two steals (on four attempts) and a 26:13 K:BB in 94 Triple-A plate appearances after abusing Double-A pitchers in a similar fashion earlier this season.