MLB Player News

Lowe went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI, a run scored and a walk in Friday's 5-3 win over Detroit.

Lowe knocked an RBI single in the sixth inning followed by a two-run double in the eighth to put the Rays ahead. In 15 games since returning from the injured list, the 28-year-old has gone 21-for-60 (.350) with eight extra-base hits and 10 RBI. He improved his season slash line to .258/.328/.472 with 20 extra-base hits through 198 plate appearances.

Arroyo is out of the lineup for Friday's game at Kansas City, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Arroyo had started all six games since being activated from the injured list July 30 with Trevor Story (wrist) on the shelf, and he'll receive Friday off after going 9-for-21 with two doubles, a triple, two walks and three runs during that stretch. Yolmer Sanchez will start at the keystone and bat ninth.

Gimenez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

Lefty Framber Valdez is pitching for Houston, so Gimenez will step out of the lineup Friday. Tyler Freeman will start at the keystone and bat seventh for Cleveland.

Massey went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Thursday's 7-3 win over the Red Sox.

Massey has yet to record an extra-base hit in his first five major-league games. He's hit safely in four of them though, going 6-for-15. He will likely get a chance to compete with Nicky Lopez for playing time at second base following Tuesday's trade of Whit Merrifield to Toronto. Massey posted a .312/.371/.523 slash line, 16 home runs, 13 stolen bases, 77 RBI and 57 runs scored across 87 games between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha this year, so it appears his bat is pretty close to major-league ready.

Lopez went 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs and two stolen bases in a 7-3 victory over Boston on Thursday.

Lopez singled and stole second in second inning, walked, stole second and scored in the fifth and walked and scored in the seventh in recording his first game with multiple walks since April 28. The pair of thefts gives Lopez three in four contests to open August, as the 27-year-old has posted a 4-for-11 line with four walks in the stretch. He's slashing .249/.308/.297 with 38 runs, 13 RBI and 10 stolen bases without a home run through 100 games.

Lowe went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Tigers.

Lowe has multiple hits in three of his last four games, going 7-for-16 in that span. He was a problem for Tigers starter Drew Hutchison on Thursday -- Lowe took the veteran pitcher deep for a two-run blast in the third inning and added an RBI single in the fourth. The 28-year-old infielder is up to a .253/.321/.466 slash line with eight long balls, 19 RBI, 27 runs scored and a stolen base through 193 plate appearances. Lowe has settled in as a strong-side platoon option at second base since returning from a back injury in mid-July.

Hernandez (hip) will take batting practice Friday but isn't close to returning to game action, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Hernandez resumed swinging a bat in late July and has been progressing well in his recovery after he received a platelet-rich plasma injection shortly before the All-Star break. However, the 30-year-old will still require some time before he's cleared to begin a rehab assignment. Manager Alex Cora said last weekend that he hopes Hernandez will be able to return sometime in August, but a better timetable for his return is unlikely to be revealed until he at least faces live pitching.

Merrifield, who is batting eighth and starting in center field Thursday at Minnesota, told reporters he has been vaccinated and will be able to travel with the Blue Jays when the team returns to Canada, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The 33-year-old will start in center field in his first game with the Blue Jays while George Springer (elbow) serves as the designated hitter, but the former should be expected to see most of his playing time at the keystone. Merrifield was unable to travel with the Royals for the four-game series in Toronto just before the All-Star break, but he's since been vaccinated and will be able to enter Canada when the team returns for a six-game homestand next Friday. He has a .240/.290/.352 slash line with six home runs, 42 RBI and 15 stolen bases through 95 games this season.

Espinal is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.

Espinal's time as Toronto's primary second baseman has likely come to an end with trade-acquisition Whit Merrifield making his team debut. Merrifield is actually starting in center field Thursday but is expected to see most of his playing time at the keystone. Espinal should compete for utility reps with Cavan Biggio, who is starting at second base Thursday.

Miller will take a seat Thursday against the Astros and right-hander Justin Verlander.

Miller had started the previous three games, going 2-for-12 with a home run and two RBI. Josh Naylor will get the starting nod at first base and should be the Guardians' preferred option against right-handed pitching moving forward, but Miller could see a slight uptick in opportunities versus righties while the team takes a committee approach to designated hitter following Franmil Reyes' recent demotion to Triple-A Columbus.