MLB Player News

Duffy (Achilles) is scheduled for surgery on Friday afternoon in Charlotte but is expected to resume workouts in December and be ready for spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 25-year-old's procedure will be performed by renowned foot-and-ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, with the operation involving a shaving down of the left heel to reduce irriation of Duffy's perpetually sore Achilles. The recovery process calls for Duffy to be in a splint for two weeks and then a boot for up to eight weeks, setting up a potential return to workouts in December. If that timetable holds, he is expected to be fully ready for spring training.

Bregman went 2-for-4 with a double, triple, three RBI and scored once in Thursday's loss to the Indians.

Bregman is riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he's notched five multi-hit performances including Thursday's effort. He's raised his average 24 points since the start of August by collecting 13 hits, including two doubles and three triples. The rookie is also enjoying an on-base streak of 22 games, matching his age. Bregman is surprisingly one of the best assets to own headed toward the finish line of the 2016 campaign.

Duffy (Achilles) was placed on the 60-day disabled list Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays needed to make room on the 40-man roster for Alexei Ramirez, so the Rays opted to send Duffy to the 60-day DL since he won't be back to playing until next season. The infielder is expected to undergo surgery on his injured Achilles tendon soon.

Duffy (Achilles) is expected to undergo surgery, and miss the remainder of the season.

Duffy appeared in 20 games for the Rays after being traded from the Giants on August 1. He recorded three doubles, a home run, and seven RBI to go along with a .284 average following the trade. The season ending surgery was expected, but the team was hoping he could play through it a bit longer before the undergoing the procedure. The team has since indicated they'd like to make sure he is ready to go next season.

Plouffe's MRI revealed a strained oblique and intercostal, and he is doubtful to play again this season, the Star Tribune's Phil Miller reports.

He missed time earlier this season with an intercostal strain, a knee sprain, a groin strain and a cracked rib, and now he has come full circle, with his oblique and intercostal costing him time once again. With all of those injuries, it seems fair to blame a lot of his mediocre play on his poor health. He becomes a free agent after the 2017 season, and while the Twins may look to shop him this winter, it's hard to envision another team paying a significant price for the aging third baseman.

Valencia is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Angels.

Valencia will get a rare day off after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Tuesday's matchup with the Angels. Oakland will go with Max Muncy in right field, and he'll bat seventh in the order against right-hander Alex Meyer.

Alvarez is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Rays.

Alvarez starts regularly against righties, but with left-hander Drew Smyly on the hill for the Rays, he'll get the day off Wednesday.

Duffy (Achilles) is not in the lineup Wednesday against Baltimore, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays announced earlier in the week that Duffy would be headed for season-ending surgery, but the plan was for him to play in "several more games" prior to the procedure. Duffy was scratched from Tuesday's lineup, and his absence Wednesday could be an indication that surgery may be required sooner rather than later.

Moncada will be given a day off Wednesday, Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com reports.

The original plan was to have Moncada play all three games in San Diego, but Padres pitchers are taking advantage of an MLB newbie. The 21-year-old is 0-for-7 with seven strikeouts through the first two games of the series and manager John Farrell decided to give him a breather. "He's getting pitched to," Farrell said. "He's seeing some things here for the first time. 3-2 breaking balls for strikes, backdoor breaking balls from left-handers that I'm sure in [Double-A] Portland and in the Eastern League, he's not going to see all that often." With San Diego scheduled to start right-hander Jarred Cosart on Wednesday, we expect Travis Shaw to start at third base for Boston.

Plouffe left Tuesday's game with an oblique strain, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports.

This is pretty bad news with a little over three weeks left in the season. It would not be surprising if we didn't see Plouffe back in action until 2017, given the nature of the injury. Look for a combination of Jorge Polanco, Miguel Sano and Eduardo Escobar to get starts at third base for the foreseeable future. Plouffe hit .256/.300/.408 with 11 home runs in 341 plate appearances and missed significant time with injuries at different points in the season.