MLB Player News

Gimenez isn't starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays.

Gimenez will get a breather after he went 4-for-8 with a double, two runs, two RBI and a strikeout over the last two games. Owen Miller will shift to second base while Richie Palacios enters the lineup in left field for Saturday's matinee.

Lowe went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored Friday against Seattle.

Lowe was on base four times -- he was also hit by a pitch -- and drew his first free pass since April 23. He also extended his hitting streak to five games with the effort, though all have been one-hit performances and he has only one RBI and three runs scored in that span. Overall, Lowe is hitting just .200/.287/.337 across his first 108 plate appearances of the season.

Altuve went 2-for-3 with a walk Friday against the Tigers.

Altuve is hitting only .235 across 60 plate appearances, though he has at least one hit in seven of his last eight games. He's also walked nine times while striking out on just 11 occasions this season, so his plate skills remain intact. Most importantly, Altuve has maintained the leadoff role in a potent Astros lineup, which should allow him to rack up runs scored as he starts to collect hits at an increased rate.

Hernandez (illness) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

The Red Sox said Thursday that Hernandez has tested negative for COVID-19, but he's away from the team and will land on the injured list. He'll be eligible to return as soon as he clears the league's protocols, but Jarren Duran was called up to take his place on the active roster, and the prospect will start in center field and lead off Friday against the White Sox.

Hernandez (illness) has tested negative for COVID-19 but remains away from the team and could be placed on the injured list, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Hernandez sat out Thursday's matchup with the Angels while feeling under the weather, and he could be looking at a multi-game absence. Prospect Jarren Duran is heading to Boston to join the big-league club, and Hernandez moving to the COVID-19 IL would make sense as a corresponding move to free up a roster spot.

Frazier went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Rays.

Frazier isn't known for his power, but he brought Seattle to within a run with a solo blast to right field in the seventh inning. The long ball was his first of the campaign and his first extra-base hit of any type since April 26. Frazier is slashing .233/.295/.330 through 112 plate appearances this season.

Altuve went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a 3-2 win Thursday over Detroit.

Altuve took Tarik Skubal deep on the first pitch he saw Thursday. He added a single in the third but made a baserunning error and was caught stealing following a pickoff attempt. After missing 12 games due to a groin injury, the second baseman is 4-for-12 with two homers and three walks over his last four games. He's walked in 14.3% of his plate appearances so far, double his career average. While his average sits at .208 for the season, with a .307 career average it's more likely than not that rate will continue to rise.

Frazier is hitting ninth and serving as the designated hitter Thursday against the Rays.

Frazier wasn't in Seattle's original starting lineup, though Tom Murphy was scratched for undisclosed reasons. Luis Torrens will move behind the plate with Frazier taking over as the designated hitter.

Lowe is out of the lineup for Thursday's game at Seattle, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lowe started the past nine games and will receive a day off after posting a .508 OPS and 36.1 percent strikeout rate during that span. Taylor Walls will shift to the keystone while Isaac Paredes starts at third base.

Frazier isn't starting Thursday against the Rays.

Frazier will get a day off after he went 1-for-12 with a strikeout over the last three games. Abraham Toro will take over at second base and lead off.