MLB Player News

Merrifield went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs, a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 8-7 victory versus the Mariners.

Merrifield led off the game with a double and quickly stole third base before scoring the Royals' first run. The theft was his 38th of the campaign, moving him two behind Starling Marte for the league lead. Merrifield has been red hot at the plate of late, registering five multi-hit efforts over his past seven games. Over that span, he is slashing .419/.457/.710 with a home run, nine RBI, eight runs and two stolen bases.

Marte (hip) entered Friday's game as a pinch hitter and played four innings at second base in a 7-6 extra-inning loss to Philadelphia. He went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic prior to the game that Marte's hip injury was not serious, adding that Marte would be available off the bench Friday. Marte is expected to start Saturday. It's interesting that Marte played second base, and not his usual home in center field. That could be due to the circumstances of the game, or perhaps the Diamondbacks want the oft-injured Marte playing a less stressful position. After the Diamondbacks waived Asdrubal Cabrera, at-bats are available at second and third base, though the team may want to give more regular infield work to players like Josh Rojas, Josh VanMeter and Drew Ellis.

Gimenez stole a base after pinch running for Franmil Reyes during Friday's 4-3 loss to Boston.

Gimenez picked up his seventh theft of the year to get into scoring position in the the ninth inning. Boston reliever Adam Ottavino retired Wilson Ramos, Bradley Zimmer and Owen Miller to leave Gimenez stranded. The versatile infielder will mainly see starts versus right-handed pitching as he competes with Owen Miller and Yu Chang for playing time around the infield.

Ibanez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-4 loss to Houston.

The infielder continues to rake, as his hitting streak is up to 11 games, including multiple hits in each of the last seven. In that span, Ibanez has gone 21-for-43 (.488) with two home runs, six RBI, six runs scored and six doubles. He toiled around the Mendoza Line for much of the first half of the season, but he's surged since the All-Star break and now owns a .263/.303/.419 slash line through 212 plate appearances overall.

Arauz went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in a win over Cleveland on Friday.

Recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Arauz provided the winning runs for Boston with a clutch three-run eighth-inning home run off Indians reliever James Karinchak. Drawing the start Friday batting ninth and playing second-base, the 23-year-old infielder has slashed .226/.314/.355 at the big league level this season.

Mayfield isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Padres.

Mayfield has gone hitless with two strikeouts in his last eight at-bats, and he'll retreat to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Phil Gosselin will start at the hot corner and bat third.

Wong was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.

Wong rejoined the major-league club Wednesday and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout as a pinch hitter Thursday. He'll return to the minors, where he's slashed .330/.377/.470 with four homers, 31 runs, 22 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 45 games this year.

Arraez isn't starting Friday's game against the Brewers.

Arraez will ride the pine after he went 0-for-4 with a walk across the last two games. Willians Astudillo will start at the hot corner and bat eighth.

Frazier isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.

Frazier has lost out on playing time recently and will be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Jurickson Profar will start at the keystone and bat eighth.

McNeil isn't starting Friday's game against the Nationals, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Even though right-hander Paolo Espino is starting for the Nationals on Friday, McNeil will retreat to the bench for a second straight game. J.D. Davis will start at the hot corner and bat sixth.