MLB Player News

Massey went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Nationals.

Massey launched a 430-foot solo shot to straightaway center field in the third inning, marking the fourth Royals homer of the game. The second baseman has enjoyed a productive June, hitting .320 with three homers, three doubles, nine RBI and seven runs scored across 14 appearances, though he has yet to draw a walk this month. Overall, the 28-year-old is slashing .261/.278/.466 with seven homers, 12 doubles, 24 RBI, 20 runs and a stolen base through 57 contests.

Sosa (wrist) could begin a rehab assignment next week, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Out since late May with a right wrist contusion, Sosa has been hitting and going through defensive drills as the Blue Jays' spring training complex in Florida. He is likely a week or so away from playing in games and should rejoin the Blue Jays around July 1.

Mayer is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Blue Jays.

Mayer started each of the previous five contests, but he'll get a breather during Thursday's afternoon tilt. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will occupy shortstop for the Red Sox.

Kiner-Falefa started at third base and went 1-for-2 with two walks and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Blue Jays.

Kiner-Falefa put himself in scoring position a couple of times, but the Red Sox continued a dismal run of failing to produce with RISP -- Boston's gone 1-for-24 in those situations and left 26 runners on base in the first two games of the series. Kiner-Falefa unexpectedly has become a lineup regular for Boston, having started 18 of the last 19 games at second base, shortstop and third base. A combination of Trevor Story's abdomen injury and Caleb Durbin's inconsistent bat have led to Kiner-Falefa being a constant presence in the starting nine. He's gone 19-for-65 (.292) with three extra-base hits, six RBI, seven walks, four steals and 12 runs scored during that stretch.

Marte went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-1 win over the Angels. He was also hit by a pitch.

Marte's first-inning single extended a hit streak to seven contests, during which he's gone 10-for-29 (.345) with three doubles, three RBI and three runs scored. Arizona's primary leadoff batter leads the club with 43 RBI through 70 games.

Young went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Orioles.

Young went back-to-back with Dominic Canzone in the ninth inning to cut the deficit to two runs, but the Mariners didn't get any closer. Young has hit well in June, going 19-for-64 (.297) over 15 games. The second baseman is now batting .256 on the year with a .684 OPS, six homers, 33 RBI, 32 runs scored, two stolen bases, 10 doubles and a triple over 75 contests. He's made noticeable improvements compared to last season, mainly in the power and contact departments.

Holliday went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a second run scored in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Mariners.

Holliday had gone 0-for-12 with six strikeouts over his previous four games. He was well on his way to another poor performance before his ninth-inning homer. The infielder hasn't logged a multi-hit effort since May 29 versus the Blue Jays, but he continues to see a starting role at second base. Holliday is batting .195 with a .671 OPS, four homers, 12 RBI, 13 runs scored, one double, one triple and three stolen bases over 26 contests.

Arraez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, four RBI, an additional run scored and a stolen base in the 7-5 win over Atlanta on Wednesday.

Arraez crushed a home run to the Chop House of Truist Park in the second inning of Wednesday's game. This was only Arraez's third homer of the season and first since May 17. The 29-year-old is second in the National League in batting average while hitting .326, driving in 30 runs and scoring 37 while also stealing six bases. Arraez has batted leadoff against the past four right-handed pitchers San Francisco has face, so he should have more run potential going forward if he sticks there.

Castro is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Cubs.

Castro had started each of the previous nine games, but he'll get a breather during Wednesday's series finale. Edouard Julien is garnering the start at second base in Castro's stead.

The Angels activated Grissom (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Grissom wound up missing only two weeks of action as he recovered from a left oblique strain. He is starting at first base and batting fifth in Wednesday's contest against the Diamondbacks.