MLB Player News

Valencia (hamstring) is back in the lineup Friday against the Rays, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Renewed hamstring tightness cost Valencia a couple starts, but he will return Friday to take on right-hander Jake Odorizzi. The 31-year-old Valencia continues to hit both lefties and righties at a good clip, but there hasn't been any power to speak of to this point, and until he starts barreling the ball more consistently Valencia will remain merely a deep-league option.

Donaldson went 4-for-6 with a double, two runs, and a walk in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Giants.

The slugger didn't go deep, but he still provided his fantasy owners with a very solid day. He has consistently been Toronto's best hitter and is looking to follow up his 2015 MVP performance with another strong campaign this season.

Valencia (hamstring) is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Red Sox.

This is the second consecutive game Valencia is missing after coming out of Monday's game with hamstring tightness. Valencia's off to a strong start on the season, hitting for a .311/.354/.361 slash line. Throughout his career, he's always been an excellent hitter against lefties, but is hitting .319 against righties versus .286 against lefties this season. Yonder Alonso remains in the lineup at third base on Wednesday.

Ramirez (hand/wrist) is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Astros.

He was hit on the hand/wrist by a pitch in Tuesday's game and was sent for X-rays, although the team said those X-rays were a precaution. Ramirez does not play every day, even when healthy, so with Thursday being an off day, the team may be taking advantage of the opportunity to give him a couple days to rest in advance of the weekend series against the Twins. Marlon Byrd will start in left field with Juan Uribe manning the hot corner Wednesday.

Ramirez was hit on the wrist/hand by a pitch Tuesday and will undergo a precautionary X-ray, the Northeast Ohio Media Group's Zack Meisel reports.

The Indians expect him to be fine, according to the report, but it was obviously notable enough that they commissioned the X-ray. Ramirez went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice and a hit-by-pitch, and did not need to get replaced during Tuesday's game. Look for his status to be updated prior to Wednesday's game.

Chapman, 23, is slashing .259/.372/.560 with nine home runs, 20 RBI and three steals through 31 games for Double-A Midland.

Chapman leads the Texas League in home runs and is tied for fifth in RBI. However, he is also fifth in the league in strikeouts. Nevertheless, he also draws plenty of walks, and could get a look from the big club before 2016 is finished.

Valencia (hamstring) is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Valencia exited Monday's tilt early after experiencing hamstring tightness, and while the club is hopeful that it's nothing overly serious, he'll get a day off to rest it Tuesday. Yonder Alonso will slide over to third base with Billy Butler drawing the start at first against Sean O'Sullivan.

Longoria went 1-for-3 with a walk and his fifth homer Monday against the Mariners.

Longoria has been bringing the power this season, with eight doubles and a .455 slugging percentage that would be his best since 2013. But Longoria has been uncharacteristically impatient, with just a 4 percent walk rate, and the result has been a brutal .279 OBP. It's hard to imagine Longoria's .240 average and 23 percent strikeout rate wouldn't be improved if he could find his selective ways of old as well. He has recorded at least one strikeout in each of his past seven games, so even with Monday's performance, it's hard to say things are moving in the right direction just yet.

Valencia is considered day-to-day after exiting Monday's game against the Red Sox with hamstring tightness, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

While this injury doesn't seem to have long-term implications like his most recent stint on the 15-day DL from the same hamstring, Chris Coghlan will likely take over for Valencia if a day of rest is needed Tuesday.

Valencia left Monday's game in the second inning after an apparent leg injury that appeared to be his previously injured left hamstring.

Valencia legged out a infield single in the top of the second and appeared to grimace and pull up as he got to first base. He remained in the game and scored a run, but then was lifted between innings. It appeared to be the same left hamstring that placed Valencia on the DL in April, but there is no word from the team with details or severity as of yet.