MLB Player News

McNeil (leg) is starting Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil was held out of the first contest due to a leg injury, but the team has cleared him for the nightcap. He's in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak, going 13-for-39 with three extra-base hits, seven RBI, seven runs scored and one stolen base over that stretch.

Short will be on the bench Monday against the Twins.

Short finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games. He's hit an unimpressive .188/.306/.400 in 28 games this season, though that's still overall better than the .217/.277/.360 line produced by Willi Castro, who starts at shortstop in his absence.

Lopez will sit Monday against the White Sox.

Lopez will sit against veteran southpaw Dallas Keuchel, marking the second straight day he's been on the bench against a lefty. Hanser Alberto will get another start at shortstop in his absence.

McNeil (leg) isn't starting Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta.

The 29-year-old appeared as a pinch hitter in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays, and he went 1-for-1 with a double and two RBI. Luis Guillorme will take his place at the keystone and bat eighth in Monday's matinee, and it's not yet clear whether McNeil could be available off the bench in the first game or return to the lineup for Game 2.

Chavis will start at second base and bat ninth Monday against the Blue Jays, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Chavis will essentially be filling in for Xander Bogaerts in the series opener, as regular second baseman Enrique Hernandez bumps over to shortstop while Bogaerts gets the day off. With all of Christian Arroyo (hamstring), Marwin Gonzalez (hamstring) and Danny Santana (groin) residing on the injured list and none believed to be close to returning, Chavis should serve as the Red Sox's top utility man in the short term. He'll be making his fourth start in six games Monday.

Polanco (back) will bat third and play second base Monday against the Tigers.

Polanco sat Sunday to rest his lower back, but he's evidently not dealing with any significant injury. He appeared off the bench in that contest and will be involved from the start in this one.

Kemp is hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a double, an RBI, two walks, a stolen base and three runs over his last eight games.

The veteran's impressive numbers even factor in an 0-for-4 showing Sunday, with Kemp having preceded that clunker by having hit safely in each of the previous six games in which he'd logged a plate appearance. Kemp has raised his season average 13 points to .253 since July 10, and both his .374 on-base percentage and .763 OPS qualify as career highs.

Estrada went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, a steal and two runs scored in Sunday's 6-1 win over the Pirates.

Estrada singled and stole his first base of the year in the sixth. He would eventually be brought home off the bat of Curt Casali and later started off the eighth with the Giants' third homer of the day to make it a 6-1 ballgame. The 25-year-old has stepped up in a big way in the absence of Brandon Crawford (oblique), as he's slashing .360/.407/.640 with two homers, five RBI, five runs scored, a steal and 2:8 BB:K over his last seven games. It's doubtful he's able to sustain his success over time but fantasy managers, especially in NL-only leagues, should ride him while he's hot.

Marte (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Monday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Marte, who took five at-bats in a simulated game at Chase Field on the Saturday, had missed taking at-bats at the team's complex due to weather. He's recently begun taking grounders and appears ready to ramp up running activity this week.

Lux recently stated that he has been sprinting and that his injured left hamstring is feeling better than expected, Michael J. Duarte of NBC LA reports.

When Lux hit the injured list July 19, the expectation was that he would likely need a fair amount of time to recover. Though a target return date has not yet been set, it's at least promising that the infielder's hamstring has responded well to rehab thus far. Early August remains a reasonable expectation for Lux's return to action.