MLB Player News

Buxton went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Tigers.

After Luis Arraez and Byron Buxton opened the game with singles off Detroit starter Casey Mize, Polanco stepped to the plate and launched his 32nd homer of the season. It snapped a nine-game homerless funk for Polanco, who is just 6-for-37 (.162) over his last 10 contests. Despite the recent rough patch, Polanco has been terrific in 2021, hitting .271 with an .832 OPS while establishing career highs in homers and RBI (94). He's also thrown in 11 stolen bases (17 attempts) for good measure.

Hoerner isn't expected to play again this season while he contends with lingering soreness from previous injuries, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Hoerner hasn't seen the field since Saturday and will sit out a fourth consecutive game Wednesday against the Pirates. Though the Cubs have thus far resisted placing Hoerner on the injured list, he may be available only in an emergency over the team's final five games. Sergio Alcantara will serve as the primary option at shortstop while Hoerner is out.

Estrada (hand) underwent X-rays that came back negative Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Estrada was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning of Tuesday's matchup against Arizona, but he'll be out of the lineup for Wednesday's game. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench.

Rojas isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Giants.

Rojas went 1-for-4 with a double, a run, an RBI and a strikeout Tuesday, but he'll head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Geraldo Perdomo will start at shortstop and bat eighth.

Gimenez isn't starting Wednesday's game against Kansas City.

Gimenez started each of the last two games and went 3-for-6 with a double and two RBI. Owen Miller will take his place at the keystone and bat seventh.

Urias is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Urias will head to the bench after he went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two RBI in Tuesday's 6-2 loss. Though he filled in at shortstop Tuesday while Willy Adames nursed a quadriceps injury, Urias is expected to see most of his reps at third base during the rest of the season while Eduardo Escobar serves as the primary replacement at first base for Rowdy Tellez (kneecap).

Andrus (lower leg) underwent surgery Wednesday to address a fractured left fibula and to repair a sprain of the the upper ankle.

Andrus' season came to an end over the weekend when he suffered the injury against the Astros, and there wasn't much of a delay before going under the knife. The 33-year-old remains under contract with Oakland next season and is expected to be healthy in time for spring training. He slashed .243/.294/.320 with three homers, 25 doubles, 37 RBI, 60 runs and 12 stolen bases in 146 games during 2021.

McNeil isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Marlins.

McNeil will take a seat for the second time in the last three games after he went 0-for-8 with a walk and two strikeouts across his last four appearances. Dominic Smith will start in left field and bat seventh.

Jones isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Jones has gone 0-for-5 with a walk and two strikeouts across his last three appearances, and he'll be on the bench for the third time in the last five games. Pat Valaika will shift to second base while Richie Martin starts at shortstop.

Hoerner (general soreness) isn't starting Wednesday's game against Pittsburgh.

Hoerner has been dealing with general soreness recently and will be out of the lineup for a fourth straight game as a result. It's not yet clear whether he'll return prior to the end of the regular season, but Sergio Alcantara will start at shortstop and bat eighth.