MLB Player News

Moncada went 2-for-6 with a two-run home run and two runs scored Sunday against the Twins.

Moncada has had a disastrous first half of the season dominated both by lower-body injuries and poor performance. He's maintained just a .213/.263/.337 line across 190 plate appearances for the season but enters the All-Star break having hit .324 with two homers, six RBI and 10 runs scored across his last nine starts. Assuming Moncada can maintain his health, this stretch has provided some hope his production will take a positive turn across the final months of the season.

The Royals optioned Garcia to Double-A Northwest Arkansas following Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays.

Kansas City needed to open up space on the 26-man active roster with 10 players set to return from the restricted list in advance of the team's first game out of the All-Star break next weekend, so Garcia was a logical candidate to return to the minors. After his call-up Thursday when a wave of players were deactivated for the series in Toronto due to their vaccination statuses, Garcia appeared in only one of the Royals' four games against the Blue Jays and struck out in his lone plate appearance.

Nevin went 1-for-2 with an RBI in Saturday's 6-4 extra-innings win over the Rays.

Nevin hadn't played in a week before getting the start at third base Saturday. With the Orioles' infield in good health, the 25-year-old has mainly seen a reserve role in July. He's gone 4-for-14 (.286) this month and is slashing ,191/.306/.260 with two home runs, 15 RBI and 17 runs scored through 157 plate appearances overall.

Miranda will start at third base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the White Sox, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Miranda will crack the lineup for the fourth time in five games, this time filling in for a resting Gio Urshela at the hot corner. The designated-hitter spot may represent Miranda's clearest path to a full-time gig at the moment, as Gary Sanchez is expected to move off the non-defensive role to take over as the Twins' No. 1 catcher with Ryan Jeffers (thumb) having been placed on the injured list earlier this weekend. The Twins should get Miguel Sano (knee) back from the 60-day IL following the All-Star break, however, with he and Miranda likely to vie for one spot in the team's everyday lineup.

Devers went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 14-1 loss to the Yankees.

Devers gave Boston a 1-0 lead two batters into the game, but that was the extent of the Red Sox's opposition. Xander Bogaerts followed with a single, then the lineup didn't get another hit until Kevin Plawecki's double in the ninth inning. Devers, an All-Star starter at third base, has launched a home run in three straight games and leads the team with 22.

Candelario is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Guardians.

Candelario will be on the bench for the third game in a row as the Tigers play their final contest before the All-Star break. Willi Castro, who appears to have overtaken Candelario on the depth chart at third base, will start at the hot corner and bat eighth in the series finale.

Donaldson will sit Sunday against the Red Sox.

Donaldson will get a breather after he went 1-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in his first game back Saturday following a minor hand injury. DJ LeMahieu will start at third base while Matt Carpenter enters the lineup at designated hitter and bats fifth in the series finale.

Urshela is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the White Sox.

Urshela will take a seat after he went 1-for-3 with a double and walk in Saturday's victory. Jose Miranda will draw the start at third base and bat seventh in the series finale.

Rivera is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Rivera looked as though he would have a clear path to starting in all four of the Royals' games in Toronto after 10 players were placed on the restricted list prior to Thursday's series opener, but the 26-year-old will end up sitting for the second day in a row. Michael Massey will pick up another start in place of Rivera, who will head into the All-Star break with a .231/.282/.407 slash line if he doesn't get used off the bench Sunday.

Ramirez went 2-for-5 with two home runs, two runs and five RBI in a 10-0 win against the Tigers on Saturday.

Ramirez opened the scoring with a three-run shot off Michael Pineda in the first inning and tagged Pineda again for a two-run homer during his next at-bat in the second. The pair of long balls matches the 29-year-old's total from his last 33 games and as his slugging dropped nearly 100 points from .647 to .558 during the dry spell. The successful performance increased his season line to .288/.368/.576, with his slugging and OPS both ranking among the 10 best in MLB.