MLB Player News

Kemp isn't starting Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay.

Kemp drew starts in each of the first five games of the season, and he went 7-for-21 with three runs, two RBI, two walks and a strikeout. Sheldon Neuse will take over at the keystone and bat seventh with lefty Shane McClanahan on the mound.

Merrifield went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals.

Merrifield has stolen a base in each of the last two games. His offense has also ticked upward in that stretch -- he went 3-for-8 with an RBI in that span. The 33-year-old speedster remains a fixture atop the Royals' lineup. He hasn't missed a game since the 2018 season, so it would likely take a significant slump for him to lose the leadoff spot in the order due to performance.

Clement will start at second base and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Reds, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

He'll be filling in at the keystone for the lefty-hitting Andres Gimenez, who is getting a breather with southpaw Nick Lodolo on the hill. Gimenez isn't part of a strict platoon, but the righty-hitting Clement's ability to play multiple infield and outfield spots could allow him to pick up steady starts against southpaws, especially while he's performing well. Through three games, Clement has gone 4-for-8 with two walks, three runs and an RBI.

Gimenez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Reds.

The 23-year-old will get a day off after starting each of the Guardians' last two contests and going 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run and three RBI Tuesday. Ernie Clement will enter the lineup at second base and bat seventh Wednesday against the Reds.

Ibanez went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to Colorado.

Ibanez plated Mitch Garver, who had walked earlier, to give the Rangers the lead in the second inning, but the bats were silent for much of the game. What had been one of the most prolific offenses early in 2022 managed just four singles. For Ibanez, it was his fourth consecutive game with at least one base hit and his third RBI.

Lowe went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a walk and two additional runs during Tuesday's 9-8 win over Oakland in 10 innings.

The 27-year-old hit a leadoff homer during the opening frame and excelled as a table setter the rest of the evening. Lowe was hitless in the first two games of the season but has come alive across the past three contests, going 5-for-13 with two home runs, three RBI and five runs scored.

Gimenez went 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Tuesday's win over the Reds.

Gimenez showed off his speed in the fourth inning with his triple into the right-field corner. He later flashed his power on his go-ahead, two-run shot in the ninth, homer No. 1 of the season for Gimenez. The 23-year-old has started all but one game for Cleveland so far, batting eighth or ninth.

Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Tigers.

Hernandez's stretch of futility went from 17 at-bats without a hit to 19, before his sixth-inning double plated Boston's first run. He later walked and came around to score on a Rafael Devers single. The 30-year-old center fielder is one of several struggling members of the Red Sox, but the team's nine hits and three extra-base hits might wake up what should be a potent lineup.

Arraez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers.

Arraez has picked up starts in only two of the Twins' first five games, but all three of his absences from the lineup have come when Minnesota has opposed a left-handed starting pitcher. With that in mind, Arraez may still have a stranglehold on a near-everyday role, despite his lack of usage to begin the campaign.

Espinal will start at second base and bat eighth Tuesday against the Yankees.

Espinal will get the starting nod over the lefty-hitting Cavan Biggio with southpaw Nestor Cortes on the hill for the Yankees, but Espinal may have also supplanted Biggio as the Blue Jays' preferred second baseman against right-handed pitching. Biggio was on the bench against righties Spencer Howard and Jameson Taillon on Sunday and Monday, respectively, while Espinal picked up starts in both games and went 3-for-6 with two runs and a stolen base between the contests. Espinal looks like the Blue Jays' best option at the keystone for now, as was the case last season, when he supplanted the struggling Biggio in the regular lineup and finished with a solid .311/.376/.405 slash line over 246 plate appearances.