MLB Player News

Ramirez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.

Ernie Clement will fill in at third base for Ramirez, who looks to be getting a maintenance day after staring each of Cleveland's last 11 games. Shortly before manager Terry Francona announced in late July that he was leaving the team to focus on his health, he mentioned that Ramirez could be subject to more frequent days off in the second half of the season while the 28-year-old manages a lingering elbow issue. Ramirez isn't expected to be shut down for the injury, but it wouldn't be surprising if he received one day off a week by the time September rolls around, especially with little at stake for a Cleveland team that currently finds itself out of the American League playoff picture.

Donaldson (hamstring) is starting Thursday's game against the Astros.

Donaldson was excluded from the lineup in each of the last five games due to right hamstring tightness, but he went 0-for-2 with a strikeout as a pinch hitter across the last two contests. He'll serve as the designated hitter and bat third Thursday.

Castro isn't starting Thursday's game against the Reds.

Castro has gone 0-for-8 with a walk and five strikeouts across the last two games, and he'll get a chance to reset in Thursday's series opener. Hoy Park will start at the keystone and lead off.

Manager David Bell said Thursday that Moustakas' (heel) time at Triple-A Louisville "may have come to an end," Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Moustakas has recorded hits in each of his five rehab appearances, and he's gone 6-for-17 with a home run, a double, three runs, a walk and a strikeout. The 32-year-old's bruised right heel has kept him sidelined since mid-May, but he's on track to return from the 60-day injured list during the Reds' weekend series against the Pirates.

Longoria (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Longoria has missed two months due to a left shoulder sprain, but he began a hitting progression in late July and will now return to game action. The 35-year-old will play five innings Thursday before increasing to seven innings Friday as the Giants ramp up his workload, according to Amy Gutierrez of the Giants' official site. Although Longoria will presumably require several rehab outings before he's cleared to rejoin the major-league club, his minor-league appearances are the final step in his recovery process. The acquisition of Kris Bryant at the trade deadline figures to cut into his playing time at third base.

McMahon went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk Wednesday in the Rockies' 3-2 loss to the Cubs.

McMahon's power has gone missing for the last month and a half -- he has one home run in 33 games since June 16 -- but he's at least helping out fantasy managers with a .270 average and .391 on-base percentage over that stretch. At 47-61, the Rockies could choose to rest some veterans more regularly over the final two months of the season, but since McMahon is under club control through 2023, he shouldn't lose out on too much work.

Segura is not starting Thursday's game against the Nationals.

A 2-for-4 effort Wednesday raised Segura's average to .308 with two home runs, five doubles and seven RBI in his last 10 games. Ronald Torreyes is starting at second base and batting eighth Thursday.

Duffy isn't starting Thursday's game against Colorado.

Duffy has gone just 1-for-13 with three strikeouts across his last four appearances, and he'll be out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last five games. Patrick Wisdom will shift to the hot corner while Frank Schwindel starts at first base.

Ramirez went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the Blue Jays.

His blast came in the ninth inning off Jordan Romano as Cleveland came up short in a late rally. Ramirez has been on a tear, going yard five times in his last 10 games, and on the season he's slashing .254/.342/.526 with 24 homers, 11 steals, 65 RBI and 69 runs through 97 contests.

Bregman (quadriceps) will continue his rehab at Triple-A Sugar Land through the weekend, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Bregman, who missed some time due to a hamstring issue earlier this week, participated in the Skeeters' suspended game Tuesday, going 1-for-2 with a double. Houston general manager James Click was encouraged by how the third baseman ran the bases, but the team wants to make sure he's fully healthy before bringing him back to the majors, since the hamstring injury set back his base-running progress. Bregman has missed Houston's last 39 games due to the quad issue.