MLB Player News

Jung (thumb) is hoping to take dry swings before the end of this week, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung has been taking one-handed swings in the batting cage and fielded some grounders Monday. He's at least a couple weeks away from game action and is expected to need some rehab at-bats, so Jung isn't going to have much runway for regular-season contests. He's been out since early August with a left thumb fracture.

Paredes is absent from the lineup for Monday's tilt versus the Red Sox, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Paredes had started each of the Rays' last 17 games but will get a breather for this one. Osleivis Basabe will be at the hot corner in his place Monday.

Garcia went 1-for-5 with a stolen base in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Red Sox.

After starting August hot, Garcia tailed off in the second half of the month. He's gone 11-for-50 (.220) across his last 14 games, though he's hit safely in four straight contests. The infielder reached the 20-steal mark Sunday -- solid work for the rookie, though he's not running quite as much as he did in the minors. He's added a .280/.326/.375 slash line with four home runs, 47 RBI, 45 runs scored, 18 doubles and three triples through 101 contests.

Gelof went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs in a win over the Angels on Sunday.

Gelof played some small ball Sunday and teed up a couple of teammates for RBI with his pair of singles. The rookie recently went through a brief 1-for-18 funk over a five-game span, but he's bounced back with a pair of two-hit tallies in his last three contests and carries an impressive .266/.330/.532 slash line across his first 191 big-league plate appearances.

Walls went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base Sunday against the Guardians.

As expected, Walls has taken over the starting shortstop job in Tampa Bay, as he's started consecutive games at the position since being activated from the injured list Friday. He's gone 3-for-8 in that span and most importantly showed a willingness to be active on the basepaths Sunday. Walls will likely be limited to the bottom third of the order but should still be a solid source of stolen bases and runs scored down the stretch.

Candelario went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Sunday's 15-7 victory over the Reds.

Candelario chipped in to Chicago's rout, launching his 21st home run of the season in the ninth inning. The infielder has been solid for the Cubs since rejoining the team before the trade deadline. Across 30 games, Candelario has an .831 OPS to go along with five home runs, 14 RBI and 17 runs scored.

Longoria started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 in Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Orioles.

Longoria was a late addition to the lineup after Tommy Pham (finger) was scratched. It's unclear if Pham's swollen pinky finger will keep him sidelined for Monday's series opener against Colorado. Longoria is 4-for-21 with three walks, one RBI and eight strikeouts over eight games since returning from the injured list.

Machado went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Giants.

Machado's solo shot in the fourth inning was his 26th long ball of the year. However, in his previous 30 appearances since the start of August, he went deep just five times while posting a .645 OPS. His disappointing season line now sits at .249/.313/.454 with 45 extra-base hits and 79 RBI through 527 plate appearances.

Escobar went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's loss to Oakland.

Escobar's sixth home run of the year was a two-run shot to put the Angels on the board in the fourth inning. He snapped a 19-game homerless drought, during which he posted a .528 OPS with just two RBI. He's now slashing .239/.283/.378 with 16 extra-base knocks through 248 plate appearances.

Lewis went 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBI, two runs scored and one steal in Sunday's 6-5 loss against the Rangers.

Lewis provided most of the offense for Minnesota, first tying the game in the fifth on a three-run shot, then tying the game again in the eighth with an RBI single. He followed up the single with his fourth stolen base of the season but was left stranded on the basepaths. Lewis is now slashing .307/.354/.521 in 43 games this season and has accrued six homers, 18 RBI, 13 runs and three steals in 68 at-bats over 16 games since returning from an oblique injury in the middle of August.