MLB Player News

Rendon (groin) began baseball activities Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Rendon was able to hit off a tee and did some light throwing and fielding drills. He got through the workout without issues, though it doesn't appear as though he'll be ready to go when first eligible to return from the injured list Wednesday. The Angels have yet to provide a clear timetable for his return.

Bregman (undisclosed) is traveling with his teammates to Denver on Monday and appears set to play in Tuesday's series opener against the Rockies, Mark Berman of KRIV Fox 26 reports.

The Astros had a handful of players placed on the COVID-19 injured list last week, but several of them are set to return, suggesting they didn't actually come down with the virus themselves. Assuming Bregman's week off didn't throw off his swing too much, he could be set for a strong two-game series at Coors Field.

Moncada is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.

Chicago and Boston are closing out their series with a game that starts at 11:10 a.m. local time, so White Sox manager Tony La Russa will give Moncada a breather after the third baseman played both ends of Sunday's doubleheader. After going 2-for-5 with a walk between the two contests, Moncada's season slash line now sits at a pedestrian .200/.318/.273 over 66 plate appearances. Jake Lamb will spell him at the hot corner Monday.

Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Reds.

Ramirez has gone yard twice in the last four games. The third baseman is slashing .232/.302/.464 with four homers, eight RBI, six runs scored and three stolen bases through 67 plate appearances this season. He can be a solid all-around contributor once his batting average gets closer to his career .281 mark.

Madrigal batted leadoff and went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against Boston.

Madrigal moved to the top of the order with Tim Anderson getting the second game off and made an impact early. He singled to open the game and came home on a Jose Abreu groundout. He later doubled in the final run in Chicago's three-run fourth inning. Madrigal has hit in four straight, going 7-for-14 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored.

Toro is not in the lineup Sunday at Seattle, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 24-year-old is expected to see additional playing time with Alex Bregman (COVID-19 protocols) sidelined, but Toro won't start Sunday's contest. Aledmys Diaz will work at the hot corner in the series finale for Houston.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Bregman (COVID-19 injured list) has been cleared to resume individual workouts, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bregman and the other four Astros placed on the COVID-19 IL on Wednesday all appear to have finished their respective quarantine periods, but Baker didn't specify when any of the players might be ready to rejoin the team. Since Baker previously mentioned that the five players in question are unlikely to be available for the team's ongoing road trip, Bregman's earliest possible return date would most likely be Thursday, when the Astros host the Angels.

Madrigal is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Red Sox.

Madrigal started the past four games and will be on the bench for Sunday's matinee after going 5-for-14 with one run and one RBI during that stretch. Leury Garcia will start at the keystone in Game 1 for the White Sox.

Toro started at third base and went 1-for-4 in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Mariners.

Toro has started two of three games at third base since the Astros placed Alex Bregman on the COVID-19 protocols list. With Bregman unlikely to return before Thursday, Toro should be in line for at-bats in the short term. He's gone 1-for-7 with a walk over his two starts.

Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Reds.

Ramirez got aboard in the fifth inning on a single and stole second. The third baseman is already up to three steals in 14 games this year. Ramirez has added three homers, seven RBI, five runs scored and a .231/.305/.423 slash line through 59 plate appearances.