MLB Player News

Valdez is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Valdez sits against most lefties and will do so in this one versus southpaw Tyler Anderson. Pablo Reyes will cover second base.

Caballero is starting at second base and batting seventh Wednesday versus the Athletics.

Caballero got the day off Tuesday after homering Sunday and Monday. The 26-year-old was on a tear at Triple-A Tacoma prior to his April 19 promotion and owns a strong .802 OPS through his first 70 major-league plate appearances.

Julien went 1-for-3 with one walk, a solo home run, an additional RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 7-1 win over San Francisco.

With Joey Gallo resting during the series finale, Julien moved into the leadoff spot Wednesday, and in his first at-bat, he blasted a solo home run off Anthony DeSclafani. It was Julien's second hit since being called up from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, and his first big-league homer since April 19. The 24-year-old extended Minnesota's lead to 3-1 with a sacrifice fly in the second and came around to score in the fourth after drawing a one-out walk. Julien is in line for regular starts as long as Jorge Polanco (hamstring) remains on the injured list.

Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

After returning from the 10-day injured list Monday and going 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk and a run scored, Lopez has been left on the bench for two straight contests. Both of those absences have come against left-handed pitching, however, so the lefty-hitting Lopez could still be on track to fill a strong-side platoon role now that he's healthy again.

Massey is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Tigers.

Massey has been in the lineup nearly every day for the Royals this season, but he holds a weak .216/.265/.313 batting line through 147 plate appearances. Matt Duffy will cover second base Wednesday and take a turn out of the leadoff spot.

Tampa Bay recalled Brujan from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Brujan has registered a .759 OPS with four home runs and six stolen bases in 97 at-bats with Durham in 2023. The 25-year-old will provide some depth with the ability to play all over the field while he's with the Rays.

Semien went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Pirates.

Semien got the scoring started Wednesday with a solo shot off Johan Oviedo to lead off the first inning. The homer extended Semien's hit streak to 13 games. He's gone 20-for-61 over the course of the streak while slashing .337/.406/.551 with three homers and 17 RBI in 21 games since the start of May. Overall, Semien is batting .299 with eight home runs, 40 RBI, seven stolen bases and an .871 OPS through 229 plate appearances this season.

Lowe (neck) said Wednesday that he feels "100 times better" and expects to return to the lineup for Thursday's series finale with the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lowe was a late scratch ahead of Tuesday's 20-1 loss due to a stiff neck, and while he probably could play Wednesday, he'll sit out again since the Blue Jays are starting a left-hander (Yusei Kikuchi). He could still be available off the bench Wednesday in some capacity.

Altuve (illness) is not in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Brewers.

After exiting Tuesday's 6-0 loss to the Brewers early due to an illness, Altuve will remain on the bench Wednesday in Milwaukee. The Astros have a day off Thursday, so Altuve will have an extra day to rest up ahead of Houston's three-game series with Oakland starting Friday. Mauricio Dubon will draw the start at second base and bat leadoff in the series finale with the Brewers.

Julien will start at second base and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Giants.

Joey Gallo had served as the Twins' table setter in two of the previous three games, but since he'll be resting for the series finale, Julien will receive his first look atop the lineup since being called up from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday. The rookie had served as the Twins' cleanup or No. 5 batter in each of the previous three games, going 1-for-7 with a walk and four strikeouts. Though he's mustered a .194/.256/.361 slash line through his first 40 plate appearances in the majors, Julien should continue to see regular starts at the keystone so long as Jorge Polanco (hamstring) remains on the injured list.