MLB Player News

Kemp went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run in a win over the Tigers on Thursday.

The veteran leadoff man has now reached safely in six straight games, and with three steals through 31 contests, he's on pace to exceed the career-high nine he posted with the Astros in 2018. However, with just a .226 average and .583 OPS, Kemp still has a long way to go before satisfying the expectations of fantasy managers who invested based on last season's career-best .279/.382/.418 slash line.

Jones was placed on the 7-day injured list for Triple-A Norfolk on Friday due to right elbow inflammation, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Jones has been with Norfolk since the start of the season, hitting a modest .212/.339/.343 with two homers and two steals through 27 games. He'll need to get healthy and then improve his performance level if he's to push for a return to the majors.

Arraez went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk in a 5-0 loss Thursday against Houston.

Arraez returned after missing six games while on the COVID-19 injured list. Batting second in the Twins' lineup, he walked in the first and recorded a double and a single in his final two plate appearances. The versatile infielder leads Minnesota with a .316 average and .395 OBP and has a 10:7 BB:K ratio. While he has never hit for much power at any level, the 25-year-old provides value with his great on-base skills and defensive versatility.

Bannon went 1-for-4 in a 3-2 win Thursday in St. Louis.

Bannon batted seventh and played third base in his first major-league game. In his first at-bat, he singled off Steven Matz. He added a couple of nice plays at the hot corner, including robbing Nolan Arenado of a hit with an Arenado-esque play. The 26-year-old has spent time at Triple-A in each of his last three seasons, splitting his time between second and third base and amassing a .214/.319/.404 batting line at the minor league's highest level.

Altuve went 2-for-4 with a home run, two additional RBI and one additional run scored during Wednesday's 11-3 win over the Twins.

Altuve extended the Astros' lead to 3-1 with a solo shot in the third inning off Twins starter Chris Archer. He added to Houston's advantage again in the sixth by smacking a two-RBI double to left field. Altuve came around to score when the next batter -- Michael Brantley -- ripped a double to center field. During the second baseman's current eight game hitting streak, he's recorded four multi-hit games, four home runs and six RBI.

Torres is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

DJ LeMahieu and Marwin Gonzalez will serve as the Yankees' middle infielders in the series opener while both Torres and Isiah Kiner-Falefa get the evening off. Torres manned the keystone for each of the past five games, going 4-for-18 with a pair of home runs and six RBI over that stretch.

Arraez (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list and will start at first base and bat second in Thursday's regularly scheduled game against the Astros.

The 25-year-old was unavailable for the completion of Wednesday's suspended game but will return from a one-week absence for the series finale. Arraez has a .301/.378/.370 slash line with one home run, seven RBI and seven runs through 23 games this season, and he should continue to have a regular spot in the lineup versus right-handed pitching.

Semien isn't starting Thursday's game against the Royals.

Semien will get a breather after he went 0-for-16 with five strikeouts over the last four games. Andy Ibanez will start at the keystone while Eli White takes over in left field.

Arauz (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list and optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.

Arauz had been on the COVID-19 IL since April 19, but he began a rehab assignment in Worcester at the beginning of May. He hit .125 with a double, four runs, three walks and three strikeouts over seven rehab games, and he'll remain with the minor-league affiliate now that he's fully healthy. However, he'll be an option to rejoin the Red Sox as infield depth later in the season.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said he expects Arraez (illness) to return from the COVID-19 injured list for Thursday's game against the Astros, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Before the Twins and Astros play the final game of their series, they'll resume Wednesday's contest, which was suspended in the top of the fourth inning with Houston leading, 5-1. Arraez won't be available off the bench for that contest, but Minnesota plans to activate him after the suspended contest concludes. The 25-year-old is expected to step back into an everyday role against right-handed pitching, though the lefty-hitting Arraez could find himself on the bench regularly versus lefties.