MLB Player News

Rojas went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run and a strikeout in a 5-1 loss to the Cubs on Friday.

Batting leadoff, Rojas doubled in both the third and fifth innings, scoring after the first one for Arizona's only run of the game. The utility man now has five hits in his last two games and is one of the few Diamondbacks hitters providing consistent value this year with multi-position eligibility, 10 home runs and five stolen bases.

Lopez went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and four RBI in a 9-2 victory versus Baltimore on Friday.

Lopez twice came up with two runners on base, and he delivered in each instance. The infielder knocked a two-run single in the second inning and a two-run double in the seventh. The four RBI were a season-high mark for Lopez, who entered the contest with only 15 runs batted in across 81 games.

Merrifield went 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBI in Friday's 9-2 win over the Orioles.

Batting out of his customary leadoff position, Merrifield notched his first four-hit game of the campaign. The only out he made was still productive, as he knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning. The veteran pushed his season batting average up to .278 with the big effort, and he collected nearly as many hits in this contest as he had during his first 10 games of July, during which he batted .132 (5-for-38).

Andrus went 3-for-5 with two runs and a strikeout in a 5-4 triumph over Cleveland on Friday.

Andrus singled in the first, third and ninth, scoring on two of the occasions to provide a valuable spark atop Oakland's lineup. The veteran shortstop has now gone 11-for-31 over his last seven games and is slashing .298/.354/.511 in 11 July games.

Arroyo went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double in Friday's 4-0 win over the Yankees.

The 26-year-old took Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery deep in the second inning. Arroyo has posted multiple hits in three of his last five games, going 7-for-20 (.350) with a homer, three doubles, four RBI and three runs scored in that span. He's posted a .270/.327/.467 slash line with six long balls, 24 RBI and 21 runs scored across 166 plate appearances overall.

Rodgers (illness) will start at second base and bat second Friday against the Dodgers.

An illness kept Rodgers on the bench for the Rockies' final two games of the first half, but he's back to full strength as the team begins its second half schedule. Rodgers hit .261 with five home runs and 20 RBI across 41 games prior to the All-Star break.

Diaz was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday.

Diaz was demoted to Triple-A in mid-June but will rejoin the Marlins coming out of the All-Star break. The 25-year-old is hitting .146/.286/.223 with a 29.4 percent strikeout rate in 126 plate appearances in the majors this season. He's unlikely to play a significant role with Jazz Chisholm, Jon Berti and Joe Panik healthy.

Gonzales is hitting .214/.287/.419 with five home runs, three steals, 11 RBI and 13 runs through 29 games for High-A Greensboro.

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Gonzales was an excellent college hitter, but he hasn't had an easy adjustment to pro ball. He's struck out at a troubling rate -- 34.1 percent -- and it's only gotten worse lately. Over his last seven games, Gonzales has gone 2-for-28 (both singles) with 15 strikeouts and two walks. He'll likely need to address those swing-and-miss issues and pick up the pace before he's able to advance to a higher level of the minors.

Short will not be in the lineup for the afternoon portion of Friday's doubleheader against the Twins.

Short sits after starting nine straight games to end the first half, a stretch in which he recorded just three hits. Niko Goodrum starts at shortstop in his absence.

Arroyo lined up at first base during pregame warmups Thursday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Thursday's game was eventually postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it did give a look into the Red Sox's plans after the organization promoted Jarren Duran from Triple-A Worcester. Arroyo has been the primary second baseman for the first half, but his role in the second half will change in light of Duran's promotion. The rookie is expected to be the primary center fielder -- why promote him if he's not going to play every day -- while Enrique Hernandez, the team's leadoff hitter, moves to second base. Arroyo could steal first-base at-bats from Bobby Dalbec, who's been up and down -- mostly down -- at the plate.