MLB Player News

Rangers manager Chris Woodward confirmed that Andrus (back) will return as the starting shortstop, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Andrus is expected to be activated from the injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Astros. With the Rangers at 12-21, it's fair to wonder if they'll go forward with veterans, but the manger confirmed both Andrus and Rougned Odor (eye) will start when healthy. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has filled for Andrus and has more than a 200-point advantage in OPS, but he should go back to third base. The manager could eventually alter his strategy, but Andrus and his .494 OPS will return as a starter.

Mendick started at third base Sunday in place of the injured Yoan Moncada (leg) and went 0-for-4 in a 5-2 win over Kansas City.

Mendick had a steady run at second base when Nick Madrigal was sidelined by a shoulder injury, but with the rookie returning over the weekend, Mendick is back to a depth role. Moncada is expected to return Monday.

Polanco went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Tigers.

The Twins were held in check by the Tigers' pitching staff Sunday, but Polanco managed to blast a long ball in the third inning to give the team a brief lead. The shortstop is now hitting .279 with three home runs and 16 RBI this season.

Merrifield went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base Sunday against the White Sox.

Merrifield took Steve Cishek deep in the eighth inning to tie the game at two. It was his seventh home run of the season and second in the team's series against the White Sox. Earlier in the contest, Merrifield swiped his seventh base of the season after reaching on a single. Overall, he's hitting .296/.356/.511 with 22 RBI and 22 runs scored across 149 plate appearances.

Rengifo went 1-for-2 with a stolen base and a walk in Sunday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.

Rengifo entered the game after David Fletcher's departure with an ankle injury in the fifth inning. Rengifo drew a walk and stole second in the sixth inning. The second baseman has a pedestrian .167/.297/.241 slash line with a homer, one RBI and eight runs scored across 64 plate appearances this season. If Fletcher is forced to miss time, Rengifo will likely stay in a starting role until Franklin Barreto is ready to join the team after completing COVID-19 intake protocols.

Semien (side) underwent an MRI which revealed no serious issues, and he isn't expected to face a long-term absence, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The 29-year-old was scratched for Game 2 of Saturday's twin bill with left side soreness, but it appears he won't miss significant time. Semien hasn't been provided an official timetable for his return, but the A's are likely to remain cautious with their starting shortstop and leadoff man. Oakland didn't play Sunday and its schedule for the immediate future is in limbo after a positive test for COVID-19 was reported in the organization, so Semien could end up missing fewer games than he would under normal circumstances.

Espinal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Espinal will bow out of the lineup for a third straight game while Joe Panik draws another start at shortstop in his place. The rookie looks in line to fill a short-side platoon role at the position while the Blue Jays wait for Bo Bichette (knee) to return from the injured list.

Lopez will start at second base and will bat eighth Sunday against the White Sox, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

Lopez batted second in the Kansas City order over a stretch of seven games earlier this month, but after failing to heat up at the plate, he's since returned to the bottom third of the lineup. He'll stick in the No. 8 spot for the sixth game in a row after going 2-for-16 over the previous five contests, dropping his season slash line to .205/.286/.284 in the process.

Estrada is out of the lineup for the first game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Mets.

Back on the bench for the second straight game, Estrada doesn't look like he'll be in line for regular starts any longer after DJ LeMahieu (thumb) was reinstated from the injured list Saturday. Prior to the back-to-back benchings, Estrada had started seven of the previous eight contests, going 3-for-21 with a solo home run.

Andrus (back) is expected to be activated from the injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Astros, Sam Blum and Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News report.

Andrus has been on the IL since Aug. 20 with a lower-back strain. Prior to the injury, he had a .494 OPS with just three RBI in 21 games. Andrus is expected to resume a role as the starting shortstop, but the Rangers will be sellers at the trade deadline and could start looking at younger talent the rest of the season.