MLB Player News

Lowe went 3-for-5 with three home runs and seven RBI in Saturday's 12-2 win over the Yankees.

He got the rout started quickly with a three-run blast off Jordan Montgomery in the first inning, then took the Yankees southpaw deep again for another three-run shot in the third before capping his afternoon with a solo homer off Michael King in the seventh. Lowe came into 2021 with 37 career home runs in 181 games, and he's now topped that total with 39 in 148 contests this season. He'll look for No. 40 on the final day of the season.

Polanco isn't starting Saturday's game against the Royals.

Polanco snapped a five-game hitting streak Friday when he went 0-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a walk. Luis Arraez will shift to the keystone while Willians Astudillo enters the lineup at first base.

Rosario isn't starting Saturday against the Rangers.

Rosario will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games after he went 1-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and two walks Friday. Yu Chang will start at shortstop and bat seventh.

Jones isn't starting Saturday's game against Toronto.

Jones has gone hitless with a walk and four strikeouts in his last nine plate appearances, and he'll be on the bench for the third time in the last four games. Pat Valaika will shift to second base while Richie Martin starts at shortstop.

Lopez went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, a stolen base and two runs scored in Friday's 11-6 win over Minnesota.

The shortstop has hit safely in 24 of his last 26 games, posting a scorching .352/.388/.463 slash line in that span. Lopez has finished strong in an impressive and unexpectedly successful 2021. He owns a .301/.366/.380 line with 22 stolen bases, two home runs, 43 RBI, 78 runs scored and six triples through 149 contests overall as Kansas City's everyday No. 2 hitter.

Merrifield went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 11-6 win over Minnesota.

Across his last nine games, the second baseman is batting .314 (11-for-35). Merrifield hasn't attempted a stolen base since Sept. 11, and he hasn't successfully notched a theft since Sept. 8. He's slashing .279/.319/.397 with 40 steals, 10 home runs, 74 RBI and 97 runs scored across 711 plate appearances, and he's on track to play in every game for the third straight season.

Gimenez went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 9-6 win over Texas.

The infielder has made a strong impression to close out 2021, batting .375 with three home runs, seven RBI, six runs scored and a steal in his last 11 games. Gimenez has been limited to a strong-side platoon role at second base since his call-up in August. He's posted a .220/.282/.357 slash line with five homers, 16 RBI, 23 runs scored and 11 steals in 203 plate appearances. Gimenez could enter 2022 as Cleveland's top option at the keystone, but he'll need to hit better than his .171/.216/.314 slash line this year against southpaws to be a true everyday option.

Kemp went 2-for-3 with an RBI ground-rule double, a walk, a stolen base and a run in a win over the Astros on Friday.

Kemp continued his torrid stretch at the plate with his fourth multi-hit effort in the last seven games, a stretch during which he's hit .417 (10-for-24) with Friday's double, a home run and four RBI. The veteran's late-season tear now has his slash line sitting at an impressive .270/.378/.404, with all three figures qualifying as new career bests.

Miller was placed on the bereavement list Friday.

The timing of the transaction ends Miller's season, as there are just three days remaining on the schedule. Miller will close his rookie campaign having hit .204/.243/.309 across 60 games. James Karinchak was called up to take his place on the roster.

Jones will be on the bench Friday against Toronto, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Jones has now started every other game at second base for the last nine games. Pat Valaika starts at the keystone Friday, but Jones should return Saturday if the pattern continues.