MLB Player News

Polanco went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Yankees.

Polanco, who has now posted at least one hit in seven of his last nine games, is starting heat up in the power department. The veteran infielder has now smashed three homers over his first 29 at-bats of the month of July. Over his last 58 plate appearances (14 games), Polanco is also slashing an effective .240/.345/.500 with four doubles, seven RBI, seven walks and seven runs scored.

Hays went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a walk in Thursday's 6-0 win over Miami.

It was Hays' first game with multiple hits and multiple RBI since June 30. Although the 30-year-old outfielder has primarily been a small-side platoon player over the past couple years, he's seeing more action against right-handed pitching in 2025, including Thursday's starter Cal Quantrill. Hays is hitting .366 with one home run, six doubles, three triples and eight RBI over 41 at-bats against left-handed pitching, but he's batting a weaker .248 versus righties in 2025.

Suzuki went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in Thursday's 8-1 win over the Twins.

After going 0-for-6 in the first two games against Minnesota, Suzuki broke out in the series finale. The outfielder is now hitting .314 through nine games in July with three home runs, seven runs scored and eight RBI. For the season, Suzuki is batting .263 with an .874 OPS, and his 25 long balls are good for sixth in the majors, tied with teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong, who went deep twice Thursday.

Pederson (hand) will resume batting practice in 2-to-3 weeks, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

It was reported in early July that Pederson was expected to be activated roughly a week after the All-Star break, but the progress in his recovery from a fractured hand appears to be coming along slower than anticipated. The veteran slugger shouldn't be expected to be back with the Rangers until at least early August.

The Guardians reinstated Manzardo from the family medical emergency list Thursday.

Manzardo will rejoin the team after missing the minimum of three games while tending to a personal matter. He should slide right back into his usual spot as Cleveland's DH versus right-handers, whom he is slashing .220/.292/.402 against this season. Jhonkensy Noel was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Herrera (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Thursday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Herrera will serve as Memphis' designated hitter for the next four days. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol noted that Herrera's catching will be limited in the second half due to two injuries to the same (left) leg, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Barring any setbacks, Herrera will rejoin the Cardinals' active roster for the first game after the All-Star break and will be the team's primary DH. He's been shelved since late June with a left hamstring strain.

Stanton isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game versus Seattle.

Stanton has begun to look like his usual self over the past few days, going 4-for-13 with a homer, four RBI and three runs scored across his last three starts. He'll grab a seat in the dugout Thursday, however, moving Aaron Judge into the DH role while Jasson Dominguez, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger start across the outfield.

Winker is heading back to New York to undergo an MRI after exiting the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Orioles due to back tightness, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Winker's back "locked up" on him after one plate appearance. More will be known regarding Winker's status after he's examined, but there's a good chance he's headed back to the injured list. Winker was just activated from the 60-day IL on Tuesday after missing a significant chunk of time with an oblique strain. If Winker does need another IL stint, Mark Vientos could receive another chance at regular playing time at designated hitter for the Mets.

Winker was removed from the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Orioles in the fourth inning due to back tightness.

Winker popped out in his lone plate appearance before being removed for pinch hitter Mark Vientos in the fourth. The 31-year-old had returned to action for the Mets on Tuesday following a lengthy stay on the injured list due to an oblique strain, but it's not clear whether the back issue might be related. The Mets could offer more information on Winker later Thursday.

Ozuna went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's rout of the A's.

His sixth-inning blast to right-center field off Mitch Spence was the fifth of five Atlanta long balls against the right-hander in a 9-2 win. Ozuna snapped a 21-game homer drought in the process, a stretch in which the 34-year-old slugger slashed just .182/.281/.234 with six RBI. Ozuna has had a rough first half of the season, and there are signs he could be nearing the end of the road on his career -- his 73.6 mph bat speed is down significantly from the 75.0 mph he recorded in 2023, and his 112.1 mph max exit velocity would be a career low -- but he still boasts an 83rd percentile hard-hit rate and 76th percentile AEV, so there's still some juice left in his bat. A second-half rebound can't be ruled out.