MLB Player News

Gimenez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, three total runs and three stolen bases Thursday in a 6-1 win against the Royals.

Gimenez put the Guardians on the board with a solo shot to right field in the second inning and didn't slow down from there. The second baseman walked, swiped two bags and scored in the sixth and crossed the plate again following a single and another steal in the eighth. Gimenez has picked up the pace on the basepaths of late, notching six thefts in six attempts over his past six games. He's added a .381/.519/.762 slash line, two home runs, four RBI and seven runs during that stretch.

Merrifield went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader sweep of the White Sox.

Merrifield entered the day with just two homers over 77 contests, and he went 0-for-4 with a walk in an extra-innings win in the matinee. However, the versatile veteran showed in the nightcap that his power isn't entirely sapped, swatting a pair of solo shots to left-center field. Merrifield has never been a big homer producer, though he swatted between 10 and 19 long balls in each of his five full MLB campaigns prior to this season. He has some work to do to reach the double-digit homer mark in 2023, though he's been a useful offensive producer in other ways, compiling a .284/.341/.384 slash line with 19 thefts over 317 plate appearances.

Frazier went 3-for-6 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's 14-1 win over the Yankees.

There were good performances throughout the Orioles' lineup -- Frazier joined Ryan O'Hearn and Gunnar Henderson as players with three or more hits. Prior to Thursday, Frazier had gone just 4-for-19 over his last eight games. He's seen his playing time drop with Jordan Westburg in the majors, though Frazier is also an option in the corner outfield. He played left field with Aaron Hicks (Achilles) out of the lineup Thursday. Frazier has a .232/.300/.399 slash line with 10 home runs, 38 RBI, 38 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 12 doubles and a triple through 82 contests.

Lowe isn't in the Rays' lineup Thursday against Philadelphia.

Lowe is 3-for-7 with two RBI in two games since returning from the injured list Tuesday. He'll get a breather Thursday while Taylor Walls starts at second base and bats ninth.

Frazier is starting in left field Thursday against the Yankees, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Aaron Hicks was a late scratch from Baltimore's lineup, so Frazier will start in left field and bat eighth in Hicks' place. Frazier is 2-for-12 with a homer and three RBI since the beginning of July.

Altuve said that MRI results showed a "minor" issue with his left oblique Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Altuve also noted that the results were better than he was expecting. While he didn't comment on a specific return timeline, he expressed optimism about potential being activated shortly after the All-Star break. The 33-year-old second baseman tweaked his left oblique during batting practice Tuesday and will be eligible to be reinstated July 14.

Massey isn't in the Royals' lineup Thursday against Cleveland.

Massey has gone 1-for-6 with two strikeouts in two games since returning from the injured list, and he'll get a breather Thursday. Nicky Lopez will fill in at second base and bat ninth.

Hensley was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Hensley managed just a .403 OPS in 26 games earlier this season with the Astros and wasn't great at Sugar Land, either, with a .700 OPS. However, Houston needs some infield protection with Jose Altuve (oblique) going down, which Hensley will provide.

The Astros placed Altuve on the 10-day injured list Thursday with left oblique discomfort.

After tweaking his oblique during batting practice Tuesday, Altuve will officially be sidelined through the All-Star break. The move is retroactive to July 4, so Altuve will be eligible to return as soon as the break is over. Mauricio Dubon will presumably handle second base while Altuve is out, and David Hensley was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to fill Altuve's roster spot.

Frazier isn't in the Orioles' lineup Thursday against the Yankees.

Frazier is 2-for-9 with a homer and three RBI during Baltimore's current series against New York, and he'll get a breather for Thursday's finale. Jordan Westburg will slide to second base in Frazier's absence, allowing Ramon Urias to start at third and bat ninth.