MLB Player News

Torres is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Orioles, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Torres will get a breather after he went 2-for-9 with a two-run homer while starting both games of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Astros. DJ LeMahieu will start at second base and bat leadoff Friday.

Torres went 2-for-9 with a two-run home run in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Astros on Thursday.

Like most of his teammates, Torres was unable to get anything going with his bat in the matinee, but he bounced back with a two-hit performance in the nightcap. The second baseman accounted for the Yankees' first runs of that contest with his two-run blast to left field in the third inning. Torres has regained his power stroke with 15 long balls this season after he hit only nine homers across 516 plate appearances in 2021.

Merrifield (toe) is starting Friday against the Rays.

Merrifield missed the final eight games before the All-Star break due to a toe injury and a trip to the restricted list due to his vaccination status. However, he'll start at the keystone and bat sixth in his return to the lineup.

Short went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader win over Oakland.

Short was called up from Triple-A Toledo early Thursday and started at shortstop for the first game of the twin bill. Though he wasn't able to get a hit, the 27-year-old opened the ninth inning with a walk, stole second base and came around to score on a Riley Greene single. Short has a bit of power and speed, but he's never hit well beyond the lowest levels of the minors and doesn't appear destined for more than a reserve role in the majors.

Castro is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Athletics.

Castro will get a breather in Game 1 after he went 5-for-11 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored against the Guardians in the final series before the All-Star break. Kody Clemens was recalled from Triple-A on Thursday and will start at first base in the matinee.

Kemp is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Tigers.

Detroit is bringing a left-hander (Tarik Skubal) to the hill for the early game, so the lefty-hitting Kemp's absence from the lineup doesn't come as a major surprise. The righty-hitting Chad Pinder will spell Kemp in left field for the matinee.

Andrus isn't starting the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers.

Andrus started the last six games and hit .217 with four runs, three RBI and a stolen base. He'll get a breather while Nick Allen shifts to shortstop with Sheldon Neuse starting at second base.

Short was called up from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.

Short will return to the majors for the first time this season after he appeared in 61 games with the Tigers last year. He struggled to a .141 average in those contests and hasn't quite produced a better line in Triple-A in 2022. Overall, he's compiled a .225 average with nine homers, 37 RBI, 51 runs and nine stolen bases over 307 at-bats in 85 games for Toledo.

Haggerty went 3-for-4 with a run in a win over the Rangers on Sunday.

Haggerty continued to make impressive contributions Sunday, this time serving as a thorn in the side of Rangers pitching out of the bottom of the order. The 28-year-old now has a trio of three-hit efforts in the last eight games, affording him a .375 average over that span despite the fact he's also gone hitless in four other starts during the sample.

The Royals reinstated Merrifield (toe) from the restricted list Monday.

Merrifield was one of 10 Royals players who will rejoin the 26-man active roster after being ineligible to play during the four-game weekend series in Toronto due his vaccination status. Before he was deactivated Thursday, Merrifield saw his streak of 553 consecutive games played come to an end due to a bone bruise in his right big toe, which sidelined him for a four-game series with Detroit. Merrifield closed the Royals' first-half schedule with a .240/.292/.343 slash line to go with five home runs, 14 stolen bases, 45 runs and 36 RBI in 84 contests, but his availability for the team's first game of the second half Friday against the Rays is in question due to the lingering toe injury. It's unclear if the time on the restricted list plus the All-Star break will provide sufficient time for Merrifield to make a full recovery from the injury.