MLB Player News

Chapman is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Rays.

It's been a rough recent stretch for Chapman, who is 1-for-23 with 11 strikeouts over his last eight games. The one silver lining is that he has a 25 percent walk rate over that stretch. Vimael Machin will start at third base and hit eighth.

Chapman went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run in a win over the Rays on Monday.

The slugging third baseman played some small ball effectively in the victory and came home on Sean Murphy's fourth-inning home run. While the pair of walks at least does something for Chapman's on-base percentage, he's still mired in an eight-game slump during which he's hit .043 (1-for-23) with an RBI, eight bases on balls and two runs. While Chapman has three home runs on the season, the most recent came April 16, nine games ago.

Rendon went 0-for-4 with a walk and a pair of strikeouts in a win over the Rangers on Monday.

The veteran first baseman was clearly rusty after missing over two weeks with a groin injury, rendering him unable to join the Angels' 16-hit attack against Texas. He struck out twice for the first time this season but did draw his sixth walk of the campaign. Rendon stayed in the game for the entire contest, so it appears that he emerged without any setbacks and should be good to go moving forward.

Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 5-3 victory over the Twins.

Ramirez came through with a clutch homer in the bottom of the eighth inning, tying the ballgame at 3-3. Cleveland would later win in 10 innings. The third baseman has pieced together a modest five-game hitting streak and is 6-for-17 with a pair of RBI, three extra-base hits and two walks over that stretch.

Toro was optioned to the Astros' alternate training site on Monday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Toro is no longer needed on the big-league roster with Jose Altuve returning from the COVID-19 injured list. He went 1-for-12 with a walk in his limited opportunities.

Rendon (groin) was activated from the 10-day injured list and is starting Monday's game against the Rangers.

Rendon had been on the 10-day injured list since April 12 due to a left groin strain, but he'll play third base and bat fourth in Monday's series opener against Texas. Luis Rengifo was sent down by the Angels in a corresponding move.

Astudillo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against Cleveland, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Astudillo will head to the bench after going 6-for-22 with a home run while starting each of the past six games. Minnesota still has two everyday players on the injured list in Miguel Sano (hamstring) and Max Kepler (COVID-19 health and safety protocols), but Andrelton Simmons' return Monday from the COVID-19 IL leaves one fewer lineup spot available for the versatile Astudillo. Minnesota will likely have two of Alex Kirilloff, Jake Cave, Astudillo and Brent Rooker fill Sano's and Kepler's lineup spots for any further contests the pair misses.

Urshela went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and three strikeouts in Sunday's 7-3 loss to Cleveland.

Urshela had gone hitless in his last two games, but he put the Yankees on the board with his third home run of the season in the fourth inning Sunday. However, the 29-year-old left four runners on base by striking out in each of his other three at-bats. Urshela is now slashing .250/.301/.441 with seven extra-base hits, nine RBI and seven runs this year.

Angels manager Joe Maddon said Rendon (groin) will likely be activated from the 10-day injured list Monday or Tuesday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Rendon wasn't able to make it back from the IL for the Angels' weekend series in Houston, but he appears to have made continued progress in his recovery from the left groin strain nonetheless. The Angels could put him through some sort of pregame workout Monday before deciding whether to activate him for the series opener in Texas or delay his return for another day. Jose Rojas and Luis Rengifo have been the primary replacements at third base since Rendon landed on the IL on April 12.

Astudillo will bat ninth and man first base Sunday against the Pirates.

Astudillo will be making his sixth consecutive start Sunday, with each of the last four coming at first base. The 29-year-old looks poised to stick as the Twins' primary option at first base until Miguel Sano (hamstring) returns from what's expected to be a brief stay on the 10-day injured list. Astudillo is slashing .293/.286/.415 with a home run and six RBI over 42 plate appearances on the season.