MLB Player News

The Mariners activated Polanco (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Polanco was sidelined for just under a month with a right hamstring strain. He went 6-for-20 in six games between High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma during his rehab assignment, slugging three home runs over his final two contests. Polanco has slashed a disappointing .195/.293/.302 across 181 plate appearances for Seattle this season. He'll resume his role as the club's everyday second baseman.

Loftin went 0-for-4 in Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Rangers.

Though Loftin didn't provide any noteworthy production Sunday, he occupied the leadoff spot for the Royals for the second time in four games. While Kansas City hasn't yet settled on a permanent option atop the batting order, manager Matt Quatraro seems to have at least temporarily pulled the plug on the slumping Maikel Garcia as the club's leadoff hitter. With Garcia batting seventh and eighth in the final two games of the series in Texas, both Loftin and Adam Frazier received looks in the leadoff spot, though Loftin's assignment Sunday might have been a byproduct of Frazier missing the game with a thumb sprain. Even if Loftin sets the table for Kansas City again Monday versus Marlins, he may not stick in the everyday lineup for long. Michael Massey (back) is nearing a return from the 10-day injured list and likely to take back a regular spot at second base.

The Orioles designated Maton for assignment Monday.

Maton will be pushed off roster as the Orioles make room for outfielder/first baseman Heston Kjerstad, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. During his five-day stay with the Orioles, Maton saw action in just one game and didn't receive any plate appearances.

Altuve went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored Sunday against the Orioles.

Altuve led off the bottom of the first inning with his 12th home run of the season and third in his last 13 starts. He's been hot in that stretch, maintaining a .352 average with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored while also chipping in a stolen base. Altuve has already locked in his third consecutive season with double-digit homers and steals and is hitting .299 across 342 plate appearances on the campaign.

Horwitz went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs, two walks and three runs scored in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Guardians.

Horwitz walked and came around to score on a home run from Vladimir Guerrero in the top of the first. Horwitz later added two long balls of his own, taking Triston McKenzie deep for a solo shot in the third before adding another blast off reliever Darren McCaughan in the fifth. After going without a homer for in his first 12 games this season, the 26-year-old notched his first pair Sunday. On the season, Horwitz is now batting .366 with two home runs, five RBI and six runs scored over 41 at-bats in 13 contests.

Keith went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, three total runs scored and three RBI in Sunday's 11-2 win over the White Sox.

Keith got the scoring started with a two-run home run, his fourth of the season, in the first inning and proceeded to record his third four-hit effort of the year. The youngster is riding a five-game hitting streak and is batting .258 this month. Keith is now batting .243 overall and is trending in the right direction after a slow start to his rookie campaign.

Gimenez is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Blue Jays.

The lefty-hitting Gimenez will begin Sunday's game in the dugout with the Blue Jay sending southpaw Yusei Kikuchi to the mound. Daniel Schneemann will start at second base and bat sixth.

Frazier was scratched from Sunday's lineup against the Rangers due to a right thumb sprain, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

Frazier was slated to serve as the designated hitter and bat from the leadoff spot Sunday, but Nelson Velazquez will step in as the DH instead. Frazier sustained a right thumb sprain after colliding with Garrett Hampson in the outfield in Saturday's 6-0 loss to the Rangers. Frazier is slashing .226/.273/.419 with one solo home run across 31 at-bats in June.

Lowe (toe) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lowe will sit for the series finale Sunday after sustaining a broken pinky toe on a hit-by-pitch in the first inning of Saturday's 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh. Lowe isn't expected to be placed on the IL and will be available to pinch hit Sunday, per Topkin. Richie Palacios will start at second base Sunday and bat fifth against Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes.

Major League Baseball announced Sunday that Martinez has been suspended for 80 games for violating the league's drug prevention and treatment program, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Two days after making his major-league debut against the Guardians, Martinez was dealt the 80-game ban for testing positive for clomiphene, a fertility drug on the league's banned substance list. In a statement following Martinez's suspension, Toronto general manager Ross Atkins fully supported the league's suspension of the 22-year-old prospect and said that the Blue Jays "will do everything in our power to ensure [Martinez] has learned from this mistake," per Davidi. The suspension will keep Martinez out of action until the tail end of the season, with a possible return date of Sept. 23 lining up with the start of the Blue Jays' penultimate series of the season against the Red Sox.