MLB Player News

Diaz is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Pittsburgh.

Diaz had started in five of the past six games, going hitless in 16 at-bats over that stretch to drop his season-long batting average down to .179. Though he's one of the highest-paid players on the Athletics in the first season of a two-year, $14.5 million deal, Diaz may nonetheless find himself on the bench more frequently in the near future given his wretched start to his tenure in Oakland.

Volpe went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 4-1 victory versus the Dodgers.

Volpe provided some critical breathing room for New York with his two-run blast in the ninth inning. The rookie also singled in the fifth, and he finished with his first multi-hit performance since May 14. Volpe has struggled mightily since that date, slashing .138/.186/.308 with a 34.3 percent strikeout rate over 19 contests. Two of his past three hits have left the park, but they've been part of a 3-for-20 stretch that has included seven strikeouts and no walks.

Franco (hamstring) will start at shortstop and bat second in Monday's game in Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays lost Brandon Lowe (back) to the injured list Monday, but they'll get the other half of their usual double-play combination back in action with Franco returning to action after a two-game absence. Though Vidal Brujan is getting the nod at second base Monday, the Rays will likely rely mostly on Taylor Walls or Isaac Paredes to work in tandem with Franco in the middle infield while Lowe is sidelined.

Neto (foot) went 0-for-3 with a run scored in his return to the lineup Sunday against the Astros.

Neto did not play Saturday due to a bruised left foot after he was hit by a pitch. The 22-year-old was back in the lineup Sunday and slotted in as the team's ninth hitter. He reached via a fielder's choice in the eighth and wound up scoring the winning run after Shohei Ohtani doubled to bring him home. Neto has shown flashes of potential at the plate as a youngster, but he has cooled off lately, slashing just .111/.242/.148 with one RBI and a run scored over his last nine games.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Story (elbow) could be activated from the 60-day injured list to serve as a designated hitter before he's ready to play the field, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Though the outcome still appears somewhat unlikely, it's notable that Cora didn't outright dismiss the possibility of Story returning to action in a non-defensive role. Now just under five months removed from undergoing an internal bracing procedure on his right elbow, Story has been cleared to resume throwing from 105 feet out at the Red Sox's spring training complex in Florida, and he's also been taking batting practice in the cage. He'll rejoin the Red Sox next week as the organization maps out the next steps in his rehab program.

The Astros plan to promote Kessinger from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports.

Kessinger was a second-round pick in 2019 and will be in line to make his major-league debut in the coming days. The 25-year-old began the 2023 campaign at Triple-A Sugar Land and slashed .284/.400/.443 with six homers, 37 runs, 32 RBI and two stolen bases. Kessinger's playing time will likely depend on whether Jose Altuve (oblique) is available for the start of the Astros' upcoming series in Toronto.

Mateo went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Giants.

Mateo picked up his first multi-hit effort since April 27 in this contest. The steal was also his first in seven games, as he's had few opportunities to run after hitting just .128 in May. A strong start to the season has propped up his slash line at .234/.276/.389 for the year. He's at 16 steals, six home runs, 24 RBI and 31 runs scored, and with high-end speed, he should maintain some fantasy interest as long as he's the Orioles' starting shortstop.

Seager went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, one walk, two RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 12-3 win over the Mariners.

This was Seager's fifth multi-hit effort in his last six games, a span in which he's gone 11-for-27 (.407) with five extra-base hits and 10 RBI. The shortstop's surge has him up to a .349/.405/.623 slash line, six homers, 29 RBI, 21 runs scored and 11 doubles through 27 contests. He's positioned to keep putting up big numbers as the No. 2 hitter for the best offense in the majors.

Romero (back) could soon play rehab games in the Florida Complex League, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Romero has been sidelined all season due to a back issue, which Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham described as lower back stiffness. "He is in a full baseball progression -- swinging/fielding daily in Fort Myers," Abraham said. "We are hopeful he will get in games later this month -- the FCL season starts June 5." Once Romero is ready, he'll head to Single-A Salem.

Baez went 0-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the White Sox.

Baez represented just one of five baserunners for the Tigers, and while he was able to swipe second and third base, he was left stranded in the sixth inning. The shortstop hadn't attempted a steal since a successful theft May 9. He's now at five steals this season while slashing .223/.270/.313 with three home runs, 27 RBI and 20 runs scored through 54 contests. His bat has been trending in the wrong direction lately, as he's gone hitless in five of his last eight games.