MLB Player News
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Zach McKinstry 2B | DET
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Goes deep in loss
McKinstry went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-5, 10-inning loss to the Astros,
McKinstry hit just his third home run of the season in the second inning to give the Tigers an early lead. It's mostly been an offensive struggle for the utility player, as he's batting just .191 with a .574 OPS, though he does now have consecutive multi-hit efforts. McKinstry is also seeing more regular time at shortstop recently, and he could start to raise his fantasy value a bit if he can string together a few more good performances.
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Nick Madrigal 2B | LAA
Rays' Nick Madrigal: Catches on with Tampa Bay
Madrigal agreed to a minor-league contract with the Rays on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 29-year-old will report to Triple-A Durham and will bolster the Rays' organizational depth at second base and third base. Before being dropped from the Angels' 40-man roster and electing free agency Thursday, Madrigal appeared in 15 games at the big-league level this season, slashing .273/.385/.295 with zero home runs, one stolen base, two RBI and seven runs across 52 plate appearances.
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Romy Gonzalez DH | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Reinstated from IL
The Red Sox activated Gonzalez (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Sunday. He'll start at designated hitter and bat fifth in the Red Sox's series finale versus the Yankees.
Gonzalez is ready to make his 2026 MLB debut after fully recovering from the shoulder surgery he underwent in March. The 29-year-old was a key contributor for the Red Sox during the 2025 regular season with a .305/.343/.483 slash line in 341 plate appearances, and his return from the IL could provide a much-needed boost for a banged-up Boston lineup.
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Romy Gonzalez DH | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Expected back Sunday
Gonzalez (shoulder) is expected to be reinstated from the injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Yankees, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Gonzalez has been on the shelf all season after undergoing shoulder surgery in March, but he's good to join the Red Sox after going 2-for-18 with two walks and a homer during his six-game rehab assignment. The 29-year-old had a career-best .826 OPS in 96 regular-season games last season and could carve out regular playing time in a Boston infield that is without Trevor Story (abdomen), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (forearm), Marcelo Mayer (forearm) and Nick Sogard (oblique).
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Richard Palacios 2B | TB
Rays' Richie Palacios: Idle Sunday
Palacios is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Palacios will receive a breather after he had started at second base the past three games while going 2-for-11 with a walk and a run scored. Ben Williamson will fill in for Palacios at the keystone.
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Nicky Lopez 2B | TEX
Rangers' Nicky Lopez: Bound for bench Sunday
Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Ezequiel Duran will get the nod at second base, ending Lopez's streak of nine consecutive starts at the keystone. The Rangers were without Corey Seager for all but two of those contests, but now that the star shortstop has recovered from a concussion, Duran could be prioritized in the lineup ahead of Lopez. Since signing a one-year deal with Texas in late May, Lopez has earned himself more playing time than anticipated by producing a .325/.358/.377 slash line with one home run, three steals, seven runs and six RBI over 26 games.
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Matt McLain 2B | CIN
Reds' Matt McLain: Taking seat for second straight day
McLain is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Cincinnati will go with Elly De La Cruz and Edwin Arroyo as its starters in the middle infield for the second day in a row while McLain is relegated to the bench. Arroyo has generated a modest .644 OPS since his call-up from Triple-A Louisville on June 1 and may need to improve his production to seize control of the everyday job at second base, but McLain hasn't done much to earn himself a larger share of the playing time. After going hitless in eight at-bats over his last three starts, his batting average has dropped to .198 on the season.
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Edwin Arroyo 2B | CIN
Reds' Edwin Arroyo: Awarded second straight start
Arroyo will start at second base and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Since Elly De La Cruz returned from the 10-day injured list Tuesday and pushed Matt McLain off shortstop, Arroyo and McLain have been splitting time at the keystone. Arroyo has held a slight edge in playing time between the two, as he's started three games to McLain's two and will be in the lineup for a second straight day against a righty (Mitch Keller). Since being called up from Triple-A Louisville on June 1, Arroyo has produced a pedestrian .263/.328/.316 over 65 plate appearances, so he likely has more work to do to take firmer control of the second base gig.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Exiting lineup Sunday
Altuve is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
The veteran second baseman will get the afternoon off after he slashed .245/.275/.408 with two home runs, no stolen bases, six RBI and five runs over the last 12 games. Raynel Delgado will replace Altuve at the keystone and bat ninth.
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Nasim Nunez 2B | WAS
Nationals' Nasim Nunez: Hitting bench Sunday
Nunez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
The Nationals will go with Jorbit Vivas at the keystone Sunday while Nunez heads to the bench for the first time since June 12. Nunez started the last 14 games, slashing .386/.460/.500 with seven runs and seven RBI over that stretch. He also contributed seven stolen bases during that time, bringing his season total to an MLB-leading 32.