MLB Player News

Altuve (oblique) is slated to take live batting practice Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Altuve will face live pitching for the first time since he went down with a left oblique strain in mid-May. Astros manager Joe Espada previously indicated that Altuve might not need a rehab assignment prior to being activated, so his return to the Houston lineup appears imminent now that he's facing live pitching.

Wetherholt is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

It's a rare off day for Wetherholt, who has now started 57 of 60 games for the Cardinals this season. Thomas Saggese will fill in at second base, and Masyn Winn will be elevated to the leadoff spot as St. Louis tries to avoid a series sweep.

Torres went 3-for-5 with a double and three runs scored in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Rays.

The second baseman has hit the ground running this week since returning from an oblique strain. In two games since coming off the IL, Torres has gone 4-for-9 with a double, a solo homer and four runs while hitting leadoff in both contests. He boasts a .764 OPS through 34 games this season, including what would be a career-high .396 OBP.

Manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Altuve (oblique) is expected to take live batting practice before the end of the week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The veteran second baseman has been sidelined nearly three weeks due to an oblique strain but is progressing quickly through his rehab program. Espada previously indicated that Altuve may not require a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the Astros, so facing live pitching could be the final hurdle before he's cleared to come off the injured list.

The Red Sox placed Sogard on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right oblique strain, Chris Henrique of BostonSportsJournal.com reports.

It's unclear how long the injury has been bothering Sogard, but he hasn't played since Saturday. Anthony Seigler is grabbing Sogard's spot on Boston's active roster, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa could see steadier playing time while Sogard is out.

McKinstry is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

McKinstry had started in each of Detroit's last three games, but he could be at risk of falling into more of a part-time role after the Tigers reinstated Gleyber Torres from the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Since the beginning of May, the Tigers rank 29th in the majors with a .287 wOBA, and McKinstry has played a major part in the team's offensive struggles. During that stretch, McKinstry is slashing just .127/.238/.141 over 86 plate appearances.

Arraez went 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and a run scored in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Brewers.

Arraez smacked a two-out triple in the top of the first inning but was stranded after Matt Chapman fouled out. Arraez's average has been above .300 since April 8, and he's now slashing .323/.365/.434 with 11 doubles, four triples, two homers, 23 RBI, 30 runs scored, five stolen bases and a 15:10 BB:K across 253 plate appearances this season.

Turang went 2-for-4 with two RBI singles, one walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Giants.

The top three batters in the Brewers' lineup went a combined 6-for-11 with four walks, five RBI and four runs scored Tuesday. Turang singled home a run and stole his 10th base of the season in the seventh inning before adding another RBI single to pad the lead in the eighth. After closing May on an 0-for-19 skid, Turang is 4-for-6 with four RBI and three walks to begin June. The second baseman is slashing .275/.405/.460 with seven home runs, 35 RBI, 46 runs scored, the 10 steals and a 45:58 BB:K across 249 plate appearances this season.

Keaschall went 2-for-4 with two RBI singles and one run scored in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the White Sox.

It was Keaschall's third multi-hit game in his last nine contests, and over his last 25 games, the second baseman is hitting .305 with an .805 OPS across 97 plate appearances. He's raised his season slash line to .249/.323/.322 with one home run, 21 RBI, 27 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and a 20:35 BB:K across 232 trips to the plate.

The Mets re-signed Arroyo to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Arroyo exercised the opt-out clause in his minor-league deal Monday but quickly agreed to a new contract a day later. The 31-year-old infielder has slashed .304/.333/.446 with five home runs at Triple-A Syracuse this season.