MLB Player News

Rice is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

After starting each of the last four games while going 4-for-17 with two solo home runs, a double and two additional runs, Rice looks to be getting a routine breather for the series finale versus Tampa Bay. Rice's absence from the lineup will open up a spot in the starting nine for Trent Grisham, who will cover center field while Cody Bellinger slides over to right field and Aaron Judge serves as the Yankees' designated hitter.

Devers went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Minnesota.

Devers got the Red Sox on the board in the third inning with an RBI single to center field, and he tacked on another run in the seventh following a 72-minute rain delay. Devers' strikeout issues at the start the season are a distant memory, as the 28-year-old has driven in at least one run in nine of his past 11 games. Over that span, Devers has gone 15-for-44 (.341) with nine runs scored, three home runs and 11 RBI.

Alvarez was scratched from the lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the White Sox due to inflammation in his right hand, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez said his hand didn't feel right after hitting in the cages before the game, so the Astros will hold him out of action Saturday. The team will presumably take him in for imaging to see if he's dealing with any structural damage, and an update on his status should come in the near future. In the meantime, Victor Caratini will fill in as Houston's designated hitter and bat sixth.

O'Hearn went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 3-0 win over the Royals.

O'Hearn put the Orioles on the board in the seventh inning when he took Michael Wacha deep to center field for a two-run shot. It was O'Hearn's sixth home run of the season, three of which have come over his last five games. He's started the season slashing .303/.384/.579 with one stolen base, 12 runs scored and 13 RBI in 86 plate appearances.

Diaz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Royals.

Diaz got the Rays off to a quick start, as he delivered his fourth home run of the season in the first inning. He continues to get on track at the plate after a slow start to the year, as he's gone 15-for-44 with only four strikeouts across his last 11 games.

The Yankees transferred Stanton (elbows) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Bryan De La Cruz, who was claimed off waivers. It does not change the timetable for Stanton, who is not close to returning from tennis elbow in both arms. Stanton has made progress recently in taking batting practice, but it's not clear when he might be ready for a rehab assignment.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Pederson will sit for the third time in the four-game series while the Athletics send another southpaw (Jeffrey Springs) to the hill. With Pederson on the bench, Jonah Heim will serve as the Rangers' designated hitter.

Gasper is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians.

Gasper will hit the bench after he had served as the Twins' designated hitter in three of the past four games while going 2-for-11 with an RBI and a run. The switch-hitting 29-year-old could see an uptick in opportunities while the Twins are without Royce Lewis (hamstring), Matt Wallner (hamstring) and Willi Castro (oblique), though manager Rocco Baldelli may prefer to rotate a number of players at the DH spot rather than settling on Gasper as the team's primary option.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that he plans to use Rice at first base "a little bit here" and is "going to try" to work him in at catcher during blowout games, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Boone has begun to think about how he will deploy Rice -- who has a .958 OPS with eight home runs -- when the Yankees get Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) back from the injured list. Rice saw one inning at catcher in the April 27 win against the Blue Jays and Boone wanted to play him behind the plate Tuesday in Baltimore but decided against it after Rice was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning. The 26-year-old Rice is a natural catcher and works out there and at first base every day. Rice could see enough game action at catcher to earn eligibility there in fantasy leagues, although it probably won't happen anytime soon. Stanton is progressing in his rehab but is not close to returning, so Boone has time to mull how to use Rice once the team is at full strength. The manager did say he is not considering using Rice at any unfamiliar positions, so when Rice plays in the field it will be at first base or catcher.

Devers went 2-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays.

Devers, who's had an up-and-down season, is on the rise again. He's hit safely in five straight (8-for-22) with three doubles, three home runs and an RBI in all five games. He's batting just .225 for the season, but 15 of his 27 hits have gone for extra bases. Devers ranks third on the team with 19 RBI.