MLB Player News

Alvarez (knee) is starting at designated hitter and hitting fifth Thursday against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez is still recovering from the left knee injury he suffered near the end of June, and while it could occasionally force the youngster to miss a game or two, it won't keep him out of the lineup for Thursday's series finale. The 22-year-old, who is slashing .323/.402/.677 with nine home runs and 29 RBI through his first 25 big-league games, will face righty Matt Harvey in this one.

Miller is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Miller picked up a start at third base in both of the past two games, smacking a home run and driving in three runs between the contests. Now that Maikel Franco has recovered from his groin injury, he'll take back his usual duties at the hot corner while Miller returns to his normal bench role.

Vientos went 3-for-4 with a double and a solo home run for Low-A Columbia on Wednesday.

That's three homers in the last five games for Vientos, and the Mets' No. 4 fantasy prospect is now slashing a fantastic .380/.446/.680 through 14 games in July. He won't turn 20 until December, so any success he has in full-season ball is impressive, but his recent hot streak is offering hope that the power potential scouts saw in his lanky 6-4 frame is quickly becoming actual in-game power. Vientos is still at least a couple of years from the majors, but a big second half will send him skyrocketing back up prospect lists.

Goins, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, could get an extended run at shortstop for the White Sox while Tim Anderson (ankle) remains sidelined, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Goins started at shortstop and homered in his first game with the team Wednesday. Jose Rondon was not productive as a fill-in, and the White Sox prefer Leury Garcia in the outfield, particularly after losing productive outfielder Eloy Jimenez (shoulder) to injury.

Brantley went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and another run scored in Wednesday's 11-2 rout of the Angels.

Brantley got the Astros on the board by swatting his 100th career home run, a two-run shot off Felix Pena in the first inning. He then scored again in the fifth after getting hit by a pitch. It's just business as usual for the veteran outfielder, who is now slashing .324/.382/.508 with 13 home runs, 51 RBI and 51 runs scored.

Reed launched a three-run home run in his only at-bat during Wednesday's loss to the Royals.

Reed came in to pinch hit for Ryan Cordell in the ninth inning and hit a three-run shot off Willy Peralta to cut the deficit to 7-5. Unfortunately, the White Sox still came up short. The 26-year-old made his debut with Chicago after being claimed off waivers during the All-Star break. Reed is now hitting .286 through his first 14 plate appearances.

Goins went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's loss to the Royals.

Making his first start with the White Sox, Goins smacked a two-run homer off starter Danny Duffy in the fifth inning. The 31-year-old was called up from Triple-A Charlotte ahead of Wednesday's game to fill in for Eloy Jimenez (elbow). Goins owned a .228/.274/.333 line across his first six seasons in the majors.

Manager AJ Hinch said Wednesday that Alvarez isn't completely recovered from the left knee injury he sustained at the end of June, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez missed only a couple games before returning to the lineup as the designated hitter -- though he did sit two games in an NL park -- but he's apparently still battling the knee issue. The 22-year-old is out of the lineup Wednesday, but Hinch indicated it's just a scheduled off day. It seems as though the young slugger will continue to play through the injury, but Hinch said he may require "a day off here and there" to help manage things.

Canha went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs Wednesday against the Mariners.

Canha homered in consecutive plate appearances -- once in the fourth inning followed by another in the sixth frame. He now has 15 long balls on the season and has recorded multi-hit games in four of his five starts since the All-Star break. That's boosted his line to .254/.386/.558 across 223 plate appearances for the campaign. He should continue to see regular playing time so long as Stephen Piscotty (knee) remains sidelined.

Alvarez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez delivered a two-homer game in his second game out of the All-Star break, but he's just 3-for-19 with seven strikeouts since that point. Michael Brantley will serve as the designated hitter Wednesday while Josh Reddick, Jake Marisnick and George Springer start in the outfield.