MLB Player News

Massey (back) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Friday.

Massey has been sidelined since mid-March due to a lower-back strain, but his back has held up well during simulated games at the Royals' spring training complex, and he's now been cleared to resume action in a competitive setting. It's unclear how many games the Royals want the 26-year-old infielder to play in the minors, but a return to Kansas City doesn't seem far away.

Edwards is being held out of baseball activities while being treated for a bacterial infection in his left foot, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

It's not clear at this point when he might be cleared for baseball activities again. Edwards is eligible for activation from the injured list next week, but it seems unlikely that he will be ready at that time.

Donovan (elbow) won't be in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Donovan was hit twice by pitches during Wednesday's loss to San Diego and had to be removed from the game after taking a sinker off his right elbow. He has played in left field most often to begin the season, so Alec Burleson and Mike Siani will likely receive an increase in playing time while Donovan is out.

Garcia is absent from the lineup in Thursday's contest against the Pirates.

The Nationals are facing lefty Martin Perez, so the left-handed hitting Garcia will take a seat. Garcia has been on the bench both times the Nationals have gone up against southpaws, so it would appear he'll be in a fairly strict platoon with the switch-hitting Ildemaro Vargas at second base.

Urias went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk in a loss to the Guardians on Wednesday.

The modestly successful day at the plate, which came in Urias' third start, snapped the infielder out of a season-opening 0-for-8 slump. The 26-year-old has split time at the hot corner with Josh Rojas thus far, and perhaps Wednesday's performance will help ignite his bat after he also cooled off over the latter portion of spring training following a hot start to Cactus League play.

Polanco went 1-for-4 in a loss to the Guardians on Wednesday and is hitting just .115 (4-for-26) with no extra-base hits over his first seven games.

The veteran's Mariners tenure could hardly be off to a more inauspicious start, and compounding the concern is the fact Polanco has also generated an alarming 42.9 percent strikeout rate in that sample of 28 plate appearances. The 30-year-old posted a career-high 25.7 percent strikeout rate with the Twins last season as well, so it remains to be seen if the poor contact rate early this season ultimately proves to be an extension of that troublesome pattern. Polanco does now have a single in three consecutive contests, a mildly encouraging development after he opened the campaign going 1-for-14 in his first four contests.

Edman (wrist) said Thursday that while he got "generally good news" from his MRI on Wednesday, he remains shut down from most baseball activities, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Edman will have another exam on his right wrist Monday, and he could be cleared to begin ramping back up next week if he receives a positive report. The 28-year-old is now six months removed from what was supposed to be a relatively minor surgery, but he has been unable to get over the hump in his recovery.

Altuve went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

Altuve concluded an offensive barrage by the Astros, as his solo home run in the seventh inning put the team up 8-0. He now has three homers on the season, all of which have come in his last four games. Altuve has also begun the new campaign with a seven-game hitting streak, including three multi-hit performances.

Caballero went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Wednesday against the Rangers.

Caballero has been in the lineup for six of the Rays' first seven games, hitting between sixth and ninth in the order. He's still found ways to be productive, as he's reached base eight times across 22 plate appearances with six combined RBI and runs scored. Most intriguing has been his aggressiveness on the basepaths, as Caballero now has three stolen bases on the season while being caught once.

Espinal entered Wednesday's 4-1 win over Philadelphia after third baseman Jeimer Candelario (elbow) was removed from the game.

Candelario felt elbow soreness during an eighth-inning at-bat and was replaced in the field by Espinal for the final inning. Candelario told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that he was feeling better following the game. He'll be checked out before Friday's game against the Mets, and pending that evaluation, Espinal could start at third base.