MLB Player News

Asuaje was recalled from Triple-A El Paso and will start at second base and bat sixth Sunday against the Pirates.

Asuaje assumed the active roster spot of outfielder Matt Szczur, who was designated for assignment. After losing out on his starting role at the keystone and being banished to the minors in late May, Asuaje caught fire at the plate, slashing .338/.408/.492 across 149 plate appearances with El Paso. Though he'll receive the starting nod Sunday, Asuaje may have to settle for a backup role behind Jose Pirela on most occasions.

Muncy will start at second base and bat second in Sunday's game against the Rockies. Manager Dave Roberts relayed that Muncy will serve as the Dodgers' primary option at the keystone against right-handed pitching, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Muncy has seen most of his action at the corner-infield spots this season, but Roberts believes that having Cody Bellinger at first base and Justin Turner at third base is the optimal setup for the Dodgers. That won't result in Muncy being phased out of the lineup, however, as the 27-year-old's unexpected excellence at the plate this season will allow him to retain a regular role at second base, a position where he possesses limited familiarity. Roberts is apparently willing to live with Muncy's lackluster defense due to the significant offensive upgrade he'll provide over Logan Forsythe, who projects to man the keystone primarily against left-handed pitching. The third man on the depth chart, Chase Utley, is only expected to garner one start per week at the position.

Chapman (hand) will make a rehab appearance at High-A Stockton on Monday and is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Padres, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Chapman was able to complete batting practice Sunday without incident, so he'll test himself in a more competitive setting Monday. If all goes well, Chapman should be cleared to rejoin the Athletics and take back his start as the team's everyday third baseman, resulting in Franklin Barreto losing out on a regular spot in the lineup while Jed Lowrie shifts back to the keystone. Chapman, who has been sidelined for just over two weeks with the sore right hand, was hitting .250 with 10 home runs across 280 plate appearances prior to being shut down.

Duffy went 3-for-4 with two runs in a win over the Astros on Saturday.

Duffy capped a terrific June with his 10th multi-hit effort of the month. The infielder slashed .340/.394/.490 over 109 plate appearances while compiling 10 extra-base hits (seven doubles, one triple, two home runs). The 27-year-old continues to put up a career-best slash line and remains one of the Rays' most consistent offensive forces.

Valencia is out of the lineup Sunday against the Angels.

Valencia gets a breather after going hitless in 10 at-bats over his past three starts. Jace Peterson gets the nod in right field and will bat ninth against Angels right-hander Deck McGuire.

Moncada was thrown out at home plate in the first inning Saturday during a play on which manager Rick Renteria feels the infielder didn't go all-out, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. "If you're asking me if he gave his best effort, no he did not," Renteria said.

The White Sox have had a few incidents this season where a player's hustle has been questioned, but Renteria chose not to punish Moncada by removing him from the game as he had done previously with others. Still, it's another reminder of the young player's worse-than-expected performance (.692 OPS, 35.6 K%, .955 fielding percentage) in 2018.

Asuaje will be recalled from the minors prior to Sunday's series finale against the Pirates, MLB.com's AJ Cassavell reports.

Asuaje earned the callup after slashing .338/.408/.492 over 35 games with Triple-A El Paso. The 26-year-old added third-base eligibility to his resume in the minors, and he figures to serve in a backup role at the keystone and the hot corner once he joins the big club. Matt Szczur will be designated for assignment in order to make room for Asuaje on the 25-man roster.

Moustakas went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer against the Mariners on Saturday.

Moustakas was one of the few bright spots for the Royals on Saturday, as he recorded his 16th home run of the season by taking Felix Hernandez deep in the first inning. After getting off to scorching start to the season, Moustakas has cooled considerably in May and June, though he could be finding his groove again, recording three home runs in his past eight games.

Devers went 5-for-5 with a grand slam and three runs scored Saturday during the Red Sox's 11-0 win over the Yankees.

The emerging Yankee killer peppered a Sonny Gray offering the opposite way over the left-field fence in the first inning, setting the tone for Boston's thunderous night at the dish. Devers would eventually pile on with his 19th double and three singles. The 21-year-old sports 14 big flies, 46 RBI, 39 runs and five steals with a .251/.294/.447 slash line after this perfect evening in the batter's box.

Anderson went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and a second run scored in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Mets.

His sixth-inning shot off Jacob deGrom got the Marlins on the board, giving Anderson five homers on the season to go along with a .292/.367/.416 slash line. While he offers limited power, his hit tool and consistent playing time still provide the 25-year-old with a solid floor for fantasy value in deeper formats.