MLB Player News

Merrifield went 1-for-3 with a double, a stolen base, a run scored and a walk in Friday's 3-1 win over the Tigers.

Merrifield had a lengthy stretch without a steal, but he's now posted five thefts in his last 13 contests. He's also gone 13-for-51 (.255) in that span. The 33-year-old is up to a .230/.280/.315 slash line with 12 steals in 14 attempts, three home runs, 32 RBI, 37 runs scored and 17 doubles in 75 contests. Despite his career-worst batting line, he's still regularly serving as the leadoff hitter in an everyday role.

Kemp went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a stolen base, a run scored and a hit-by-pitch in Friday's 3-1 win over the Mariners.

Kemp has hit safely in each of the last two games since snapping an 0-for-14 skid. He was involved in the Athletics' first two runs Friday, scoring the first and knocking in the second with a single. The 30-year-old is up to a .220/.301/.280 slash line with six steals, two home runs, 13 RBI, 26 runs scored and nine doubles through 282 plate appearances. Between second base and left field, Kemp should continue to draw fairly steady playing time.

Rojas went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and two runs scored in Friday's 9-3 win over the Rockies.

Rojas has posted multiple hits in three of his last four games, going 7-for-18 (.389) in that span. He was effective at keeping the line moving Friday, again serving in the leadoff role. The versatile 28-year-old is up to a .260/.326/.385 slash line with four home runs, 18 RBI, 27 runs scored, seven doubles and five stolen bases through 46 contests, and he's claimed a near-everyday role at third base with his solid hitting.

Estrada will sit Friday against the White Sox, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Estrada hits the bench after going hitless in his last two games, dropping his OPS on the season down to .697. Donovan Walton will start at shortstop in his absence.

Lux will sit Friday against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Lux sat only twice in June, but his first off day in July comes on the first day of the month. Max Muncy will get the start at second base.

Chavis is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Brewers.

Chavis will be on the bench again Friday as the Pirates take on right-hander Corbin Burnes. Josh VanMeter will draw the start at first base and bat fifth versus Milwaukee.

Gorman (hand) is not in the starting lineup for Friday's contest against the Phillies, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Gorman will miss a second consecutive game while nursing a hand injury, but he told John Denton of MLB.com that he has no limitations moving forward. Albert Pujols is starting at designated hitter and batting sixth in the series opener Friday.

Andrus went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss to the Mariners on Thursday.

Andrus' 402-foot solo shot in the third inning erased an early 1-0 deficit and served as his fourth homer of the season. The veteran shortstop has now hit safely in six straight starts, and he's generated an outstanding .364 average and 1.031 OPS across a modest sample of 25 plate appearances in his last seven contests.

Hoerner is not in the starting lineup for Friday's contest with the Red Sox.

Hoerner will get a day off after he went 7-for-13 with a double, two RBI and two runs during a three-game series against the Reds. He currently owns an eight-game hit streak, raising his average from .271 to .310 over that stretch. Andrelton Simmons will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Friday's series opener.

Espinal went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's win over the Rays.

The infielder capped the scoring on the night with a two-run blast off Ryan Yarbrough in the seventh inning, his sixth long ball of the year. Espinal snapped a 21-game homer drought with the performance, but he's been picking up the pace at the plate with four two-hit efforts in the last five games, boosting his slash line back up to .271/.323/.405.