MLB Player News

Julien went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the Dodgers.

Julien led off the home half of the first with an opposite-field shot off Bobby Miller, tying the game 1-1, before cranking a second homer off left-hander Alex Vesia in the fifth, putting Minnesota ahead 3-2. It's the first multi-hit game of the season for the 24-year-old Julien -- he'd gone just 3-for-28 with a 35.5 percent strikeout rate in his first nine games this year. Despite his early struggles, Julien appears to be locked in as the Twins' leadoff hitter against right-handed pitching after slashing .263/.381/.459 with 16 homers, 60 runs scored and 37 RBI in 408 plate appearances as a rookie.

Valdez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

The lefty-hitting Valdez is on the bench Wednesday while southpaw Cole Irvin takes the hill for Baltimore. The righty-hitting Pablo Reyes will step in for Valdez on Wednesday, and the two could continue to form a platoon at the keystone until Vaughn Grissom (groin) is ready to return from the injured list.

Hoerner is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in San Diego.

Hoerner is getting his first day off of the season after having started in each of the Cubs' first 11 contests. Miles Mastrobuoni will serve as the Cubs' second baseman Wednesday.

Sosa will start at third base and bat second in Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Sosa went 1-for-5 with an RBI double and a run scored while starting at second base in Tuesday's 7-5 win, but he looks as though he could be in store for an everyday role at the hot corner moving forward. The White Sox placed Yoan Moncada on the 10-day injured list with a left adductor strain that's expected to keep him sidelined for 3-to-6 months, and Sosa will get the first chance to replace him in the lineup.

Torres will start at second base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game versus the Marlins.

He had been in the leadoff spot in each of his first 12 starts this season, but Anthony Volpe will be at the top of the batting order Wednesday. Torres is slashing just .200/.281/.240 this season.

Mateo is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

The Orioles had included at least one Mateo or Ramon Urias in their starting infield in all but one of their first 10 games, but both players look set to lose out on playing time following the promotion of top prospect Jackson Holliday from Triple-A Norfolk. With Holliday expected to handle an everyday role at the keystone, Jordan Westburg should see most of the starts at third base, closing off both of Mateo's primary avenues to playing time in the infield. Mateo has made one start in center field, but he's still likely to be little more than an occasional fill-in for everyday starter Cedric Mullins at that position.

Mead will start at second base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The rookie will man the keystone for the third day in a row, though he'll be doing so against a right-handed starting pitcher (Jose Soriano) on Wednesday after his previous two starts came versus southpaws. He had been occupying the short side of a platoon with Brandon Lowe, but Mead could be poised for a regular spot in the lineup versus right-handed pitching after manager Kevin Cash indicated that Lowe tweaked his right oblique while warming up prior to Tuesday's 6-4 win. According to Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun, Cash said that it's "fair to say" that Lowe will miss some time, so expect the veteran to be placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's series opener versus the Giants. Through 27 plate appearances this season, Mead has slashed .292/.370/.292 with two runs scored.

Lowe will undergo an MRI on his right oblique and won't be available for Wednesday's game against the Angels, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said that it's "fair to say he will miss some time," so while Lowe hasn't yet been placed on the 10-day injured list, he seems likely to be deactivated prior to Friday's series opener versus the Giants. The MRI will determine the severity of the injury and should help provide the Rays with a rough timeline for how long Lowe might be sidelined. Lowe was out of the lineup for the Rays' past two games against left-handed pitching, but he'll be on the bench Wednesday against a right-hander (Jose Soriano) for the first time. Curtis Mead will draw a third straight start and will likely be headed for a full-time role at second base if Lowe does in fact land on the IL.

Stott will start at second base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Stott is slashing just .206/.317/.235 in his first 11 contests this season, so he'll be dropped from sixth to eighth in the Phillies' batting order. He's switching spots with Brandon Marsh, who has been elevated to sixth.

Biggio went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's win over the Mariners.

The steal was his first of the season. Biggio has hit safely in five straight games and has been a near-everyday fixture in the Blue Jays' lineup, primarily at second base, but the team also hasn't faced many left-handed starters yet. Through 11 contests, the 28-year-old is batting .290 (9-for-31) with one homer, three runs and four RBI.