MLB Player News

Semien went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in a win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Semien opened the new month wielding the same hot bat he finished July with, as Wednesday's tally marked his third straight two-hit effort. The 27-year-old continues to inch his season average upward, and his current .259 figure qualifies as his highest since June 10.

Barreto went 3-for-4 with a two-run double and solo home run in a win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Barreto helped the Athletics pile on in the sixth with a timely two-bagger that plated Marcus Semien and Jonathan Lucroy to extend the Oakland lead to 7-0. He then closed out the scoring on the afternoon with a 399-foot solo shot to left, his fourth round tripper of the season and first at the big-league level since June 22. Barreto has been frequently shuttled between Triple-A Nashville and the big-league club this season, with his current stint a result of Chad Pinder's placement on the disabled list with the lacerated elbow he suffered in a car accident last Saturday.

Merrifield is not in the lineup against the White Sox on Thursday.

Merrifield will receive a rare day off -- his first since June 24 -- while Adalberto Mondesi gets a nod at the keystone. Since that day off in June, he's hit .336/.389/.454 with nine RBI and seven stolen bases in his last 29 games. Look for Merrifield to rejoin the starting lineup in Minnesota on Friday.

Kemp hit leadoff and went 1-for-5 in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Mariners.

Kemp got the rare call to hit leadoff with George Springer getting the day off to rest an ailing shoulder. With Springer expected back Friday, Kemp will return to his bottom-of-the-order status.

Torres went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI and one walk Wednesday against the Orioles.

Torres went deep in the second and ninth innings, but Baltimore would escape with a 7-5 victory. He's gone 6-for-24 with three-extra base hits and seven RBI in seven games since returning from the disabled list. The rookie second baseman is hitting .289 with 17 home runs and 49 RBI through 70 games in the big leagues this season.

Lux was promoted to Double-A Tulsa on Wednesday

Lux hit a strong .324/.396/.520 with 11 homers and 11 steals in 88 games for High-A Rancho Cucamonga to earn the promotion. Lux projects as a fringe starter with good speed but no other standout tools, though if he keeps showing power he could certainly raise his profile.

Semien went 2-for-4 and recorded his 11th stolen base of the season in a win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

A recent move down the order seems to have agreed with Semien thus far, and he's now hitting .359 (14-for-39) with three doubles, one triple and two RBI when deployed out of the eighth spot this season. Nick Martini should continue to lead off while Semien bats in the bottom third against righties, but look for Semien to see starts atop the order against lefties.

Forsythe is not in the lineup against Cleveland on Wednesday, LaVelle E. Neal of the Star Tribune reports.

Forsythe is expected to be available off the bench but won't be in the starting lineup since he still has yet to arrive in Minnesota after being dealt from the Dodgers on Tuesday. Ehire Adrianza will man second base and bat ninth.

McNeil is out of the lineup against Washington on Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil will receive a breather after five straight starts in the lineup. In his place, Phillip Evans will man the keystone and bat seventh.

Sweeney was called up from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

Sweeney was removed from the 40-man roster in early July after a brief stint in the majors, and now makes his return to the Blue Jays following the trades of John Axford and Aaron Loup. Sweeney should serve in a utility role for Toronto and is unlikely to garner consistent opportunities.