MLB Player News

Torres is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Orioles, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Torres will get a breather after he went 2-for-9 with a two-run homer while starting both games of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Astros. DJ LeMahieu will start at second base and bat leadoff Friday.

Torres went 2-for-9 with a two-run home run in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Astros on Thursday.

Like most of his teammates, Torres was unable to get anything going with his bat in the matinee, but he bounced back with a two-hit performance in the nightcap. The second baseman accounted for the Yankees' first runs of that contest with his two-run blast to left field in the third inning. Torres has regained his power stroke with 15 long balls this season after he hit only nine homers across 516 plate appearances in 2021.

Merrifield (toe) is starting Friday against the Rays.

Merrifield missed the final eight games before the All-Star break due to a toe injury and a trip to the restricted list due to his vaccination status. However, he'll start at the keystone and bat sixth in his return to the lineup.

Kim is not in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Mets.

Kim will remain on the bench for the second game in a row Friday after also getting a breather Sunday versus the Diamondbacks prior to the All-Star break. CJ Abrams will draw another start at shortstop and bat ninth against New York.

Rojas isn't starting Friday against the Nationals.

Rojas started the last 11 games and hit .268 with a homer, four doubles, seven RBI, three runs and three stolen bases. Sergio Alcantara is shifting to third base while Buddy Kennedy serves as the designated hitter.

Short went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader win over Oakland.

Short was called up from Triple-A Toledo early Thursday and started at shortstop for the first game of the twin bill. Though he wasn't able to get a hit, the 27-year-old opened the ninth inning with a walk, stole second base and came around to score on a Riley Greene single. Short has a bit of power and speed, but he's never hit well beyond the lowest levels of the minors and doesn't appear destined for more than a reserve role in the majors.

Lux isn't starting Thursday against the Giants, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Lux started the four games prior to the All-Star break and went 1-for-12 with a homer, three runs, two RBI, three walks and a strikeout. Hanser Alberto is taking over at the keystone and batting sixth Thursday.

Villar is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

After sitting against lefty Aaron Ashby and the Brewers in the Giants' final game before the All-Star break July 17, the righty-hitting Villar now finds himself on the bench against Dodgers right-hander Mitch White in San Francisco's first contest of the second half. Even though Tommy La Stella (illness) is still stuck on the COVID-19-related injured list and Thairo Estrada is filling in at shortstop while Brandon Crawford (knee) is on the IL, Wilmer Flores may be ahead of Villar for playing time in the middle infield. Flores will pick up his second straight start at the keystone.

Castro is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Athletics.

Castro will get a breather in Game 1 after he went 5-for-11 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored against the Guardians in the final series before the All-Star break. Kody Clemens was recalled from Triple-A on Thursday and will start at first base in the matinee.

Kemp is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Tigers.

Detroit is bringing a left-hander (Tarik Skubal) to the hill for the early game, so the lefty-hitting Kemp's absence from the lineup doesn't come as a major surprise. The righty-hitting Chad Pinder will spell Kemp in left field for the matinee.