MLB Player News

Merrifield hasn't attempted a stolen base since he was caught stealing May 24.

The 33-year-old has gone 10-for-49 (.204) with three walks, six strikeouts, six RBI and five runs in his last 12 games. Merrifield was hot for much of the middle of May, but the versatile veteran is back in a slump again. He's now slashing .217/.258/.308 with three home runs, 24 RBI, 25 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 54 contests overall. With the Royals a major-league worst 17-37, Merrifield's running might not come back, and he's not hitting well enough to help many fantasy managers without displaying some speed.

Espinal went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs in Tuesday's win against the Royals.

Espinal doubled and scored in the top of the second inning before later adding two singles and coming around to score again. He has now recorded multiple hits in five of his last six contests, going 12-for-24 with two homers, eight RBI and five runs over those contests. The hot stretch has his batting average up to .293 on the season while he has compiled five home runs, 27 RBI, 21 runs and three stolen bases over 188 at-bats in 55 games this year.

Arraez left Tuesday's loss to the Yankees in the seventh inning with right shoulder tightness, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Arraez dove for a ball at first base and landed on his shoulder, which may have caused the discomfort. He was replaced by Jose Miranda at first base.

Gimenez is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rangers.

Gimenez went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk during Game 1, and he'll take a seat for the nightcap since lefty Taylor Hearn is on the mound for Texas. Ernie Clement will man the keystone in Game 2.

Mendick will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Mendick will get a second consecutive look out of the leadoff spot while he starts at shortstop for the sixth time in the last seven games. He's gotten on bace at an excellent .444 clip since taking hold of a regular role May 31, so Mendick looks poised to hold down everyday at-bats until the White Sox get Tim Anderson (groin) back from the injured list.

Torres is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.

With Josh Donaldson and Giancarlo Stanton returning from the injured list over the weekend to bring the Yankees lineup back to full strength, Torres no longer has a direct path to an everyday role at second base after he had occupied the position in 13 of the team's last 14 games. Though absences from the lineup should come slightly more frequently for Torres, he should still play on a near-everyday basis while manager Aaron Boone rotates rest days for some of the team's other regulars.

Biggio is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals.

Biggio logged eight starts in nine games following his promotion from Triple-A Buffalo on May 26, but he'll be taking a seat Tuesday for the third contest in a row. With Vladimir Guerrero and Matt Chapman established as the everyday starters at the two corner-infield spots and with Santiago Espinal having rebuilt some job security as the Blue Jays' primary second baseman by homering in back-to-back games, Biggio doesn't have a clear path to regular at-bats at any spot.

Castro will start at third base and bat ninth in Tuesday's game against the Pirates.

With Jeimer Candelario (shoulder) moving to the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Castro looks like he'll get the first crack to replace him as the everyday third baseman. The versatile Castro had already picked up work at three different positions (left field, first base and shortstop) while staring in five of the Tigers' previous six games, but Candelario's absence creates a more permanent pathway to playing time.

Espinal went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Monday's 8-0 win over the Royals.

Espinal has now turned in three consecutive two-hit games and has homered on back-to-back days while driving in five runs between the contests. After his production had slowed down in May, Espinal has opened June with a bang to help solidify himself as the everyday second baseman ahead of Cavan Biggio, who has been performing well since his late-May call-up from Triple-A Buffalo.

The Astros promoted Valdez from Double-A Corpus Christi to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 23-year-old has been a breakout performer at Corpus Christi this season, compiling 27 extra-base hits while getting on base at a .463 clip over 205 plate appearances. He'll now get a stiffer test at Sugar Land, and the Astros are likely to continue exposing him to multiple positions at the Triple-A level to create more potential avenues to playing time in the big leagues. Valdez had already logged starts at second base, third base, left field and right field during his time at Corpus Christi.