MLB Player News
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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Ready to return to lineup
Lowe (toe) went 0-for-1 with a strikeout Friday against the Nationals.
Lowe has been out of the lineup for five straight games with a fractured pinky toe, and Friday's appearance as a pinch hitter was his first since suffering the injury. Manager Kevin Cash said that Lowe was physically capable of being a starter, but Lowe remained on the bench due to a matchup against lefty Mitchell Parker, per MLB.com. Lowe wore a protective guard over his right cleat.
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Zack Gelof 2B | ATH
Athletics' Zack Gelof: Gets aboard four times in win
Gelof went 3-for-4 with a triple, a walk, one RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in Friday's 9-4 win over the Diamondbacks.
Gelof had gone 2-for-17 over his previous five contests before his big game Friday. The second baseman's triple was his second of the campaign and his first extra-base hit since June 20. He's at a .205/.259/.362 slash line with eight home runs, 22 RBI, 25 runs scored and nine steals across 62 games this year.
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Isiah Kiner-Falefa CF | BOS
Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Hit streak at 12 games
Kiner-Falefa went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 16-5 loss to the Yankees.
The infielder took Michael Tonkin deep in the sixth inning, giving Kiner-Falefa his seventh long ball of the season, one off his career high. He's also hit safely in 12 straight games, batting a blistering .395 (17-for-43) over that stretch with three homers, six RBI and 10 runs.
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Brandon Drury 2B | KC
Angels' Brandon Drury: Absent from lineup
Drury (illness) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Detroit, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Drury hasn't played since June 18 due to an upper-respiratory illness and will be on the bench again Friday. Luis Guillorme will play second base and bat ninth. Drury is considered day-to-day but doesn't have a clear timeline for his return.
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Gleyber Torres 2B | DET
Yankees' Gleyber Torres: Returns to lineup
Torres is batting fifth and playing second base Friday at Toronto.
Torres is 2-for-29 at the plate since June 14 and was given back-to-back days off to clear his head amid the slump. The second baseman is 10-for-26 (.385) in his career against Yusei Kikuchi, who's the Blue Jays' starting pitcher Friday.
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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Held out again Friday
Lowe (toe) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals.
Lowe hasn't played since suffering a fractured right pinky toe June 22. The Rays are facing a lefty in Mitchell Parker on Friday, so Lowe might not have been in the lineup anyway. If he remains out Saturday against righty Jake Irvin, a stint on the injured list may have to be considered. Jose Caballero is at second base Friday.
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Enmanuel Valdez 2B | PIT
Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: On bench Friday
Valdez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against San Diego, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Despite the Red Sox facing a right-hander in Randy Vasquez, Valdez will take a seat, yielding to David Hamilton at second base while Ceddanne Rafaela fills in at shortstop. Valdez is slashing .212/.267/.404 with six home runs in 162 plate appearances this season.
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Nick Loftin 1B | KC
Royals' Nick Loftin: Nabs steal
Loftin went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Guardians.
Loftin has gone just 4-for-41 (.098) with a 5:10 BB:K over his last 14 contests. The versatile infielder got the start at third base for the second game in a row after CJ Alexander was at the hot corner for the two previous contests. The Royals are limiting Michael Massey to designated hitter to ease him in after another back injury, but once he's able to play the field, Loftin's usage is like to decrease. Loftin is slashing just .223/.322/.282 with one home run, one steal, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored over 122 plate appearances.
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Gleyber Torres 2B | DET
Yankees' Gleyber Torres: Could be back Friday
Manager Aaron Boone said there's a "good chance" Torres returns to the lineup Friday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
Torres has been out of the lineup Wednesday and Thursday after slumping both at the plate and with the glove of late. Boone did not commit to any specific plan, so it will be important to check the official lineup before Friday's 7:07 pm ET first pitch.