MLB Player News

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli expressed optimism Thursday that Polanco (hamstring) will avoid the injured list, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. "He's still, I think, pretty strong in the muscle," said Baldelli. "But he definitely felt something. We're going to have to pay attention to it."

Polanco tweaked his troublesome left hamstring while running the bases in the top of the first inning Thursday versus the Rays. The second baseman just returned June 1 from a nearly two-week stay on the IL for a left hamstring strain. He's considered day-to-day leading into the Twins' three-game weekend series at Toronto.

Polanco was pulled from Thursday's game versus the Rays with left hamstring tightness, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Polanco was hurt in the first inning while running the bases. It's the same hamstring which he injured previously, having just returning from the IL at the beginning of the month. If it's deemed an aggravation of that previous issue, another stint on the IL is certainly possible, although the Twins should offer more on the infielder's status after the game.

Polanco left Thursday's game at Tampa Bay in the first inning due to an apparent leg injury while running the bases, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Donovan Solano replaced Polanco in the lineup at DH. Polanco missed 12 days in May due to a hamstring injury, but it's unclear if Thursday's injury is related to the previous one.

Rosario went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Red Sox.

Rosario was out for two games with left knee soreness, but he was able to be a positive contributor in his return to the lineup. The shortstop had gone just 3-for-26 (.115) over eight games since his previous multi-hit effort. Rosario has maintained a regular role this season, but he's struggled to a .237/.281/.330 slash line with one home run, eight stolen bases, 15 RBI and 26 runs scored. His .303 BABIP through 54 games is the lowest of his career, so it's fair to expect him to have at least a small bounce-back over the rest of the season.

Gonzalez is starting at second base and batting eighth Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader against the Yankees.

Elvis Andrus returned from the injured list on June 2, but it's been Gonzalez at second base for four of five games since then. Andrus has made just two starts during that span, with one of them coming at third base. Gonzalez has been all-or-nothing at the plate, but he does have an .874 OPS since May 1 thanks in large part to a three-game homer streak last month.

Dubon went 0-for-4 with a run scored Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

Dubon didn't put together an impressive performance on the field, but he drew his second start at shortstop this season. He has seen most of his playing time at second base but has been forced back to a bench role due to the return of Jose Altuve. Meanwhile, Jeremy Pena has been the locked-in starting shortstop and has performed just above league average based on wRC+. That likely means Dubon will be stuck in a reserve role for the foreseeable future, though his defensive versatility could help him pick up additional playing time.

Rengifo went 2-for-4 with a home run, a stolen base, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Cubs.

Rengifo homered for the second time three games, and he's gone 7-for-16 (.438) through five contests in June. He also recorded his fifth steal of the season, his first since May 19, putting him one shy of matching his career high. The infielder typically doesn't add a ton of pop or speed, but he's seemingly starting to rediscover his 2022 form. He's still got work to do with his season slash line at .224/.311/.333 through 167 plate appearances.

Lowe will be shut down from baseball activities for 2-to-3 weeks due to a herniated disc in his back, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The hope is that the injury will heal following the shutdown period, although there are no guarantees. He will need a build-up period after abandoning activities until late June, so there would seem to be a good chance Lowe is out until around the All-Star break. Lowe also missed much of last season with back problems.

Hernandez will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Guardians, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Even though manager Alex Cora hinted Monday that Hernandez's shaky defense at shortstop would likely begin to cost him playing time at the position, the 31-year-old will man short for the second straight game. Trevor Story (elbow) is ultimately going to be the Red Sox's long-term answer at shortstop, but the team may be willing to put up with Hernandez's shortcomings in the field for a little while longer while the alternative options at the position are underwhelming.

Altuve (oblique) will start at second base and bat second in Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.

Altuve missed the Astros' last four games due to oblique tightness, but he managed to avoid a trip to the injured list and is ready to return to his usual spot at the keystone. Mauricio Dubon -- who filled in at second base for Houston in each of the past four games -- will stick in the lineup as the Astros' leadoff man, this time while manning shortstop in place of a resting Jeremy Pena.