MLB Player News

Story went 0-for-4 in Friday's 13-2 loss to the Royals.

Story continues to slump as the calendar flips to September. The shortstop has one hit in his last 20 at-bats and is 7-for-57 (.123) with a 35.0 K% over the last 14 games. While the Red Sox's playoff chances dim amid a five-game losing streak, the team may want the veteran to get as many at-bats as possible after missing the first four months of the season.

Basabe went 1-for-4 Friday against the Guardians.

Basabe has played an everyday role at shortstop with Wander Franco on administrative leave and has performed fairly well across 16 games, maintaining a .255 average with one home run, nine RBI and 10 runs scored. However, Taylor Walls (oblique) was activated from the injured list Friday and per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, he will serve as the Rays' starting shortstop. Meanwhile, Basabe will shift to a utility role and will almost certainly lose out on playing time.

Witt went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 13-2 win over the Red Sox.

Witt homered nine times and hit .324 over 27 games in August, and he's not showing any signs of slowing down to begin September. His first-inning blast got the scoring started in a game that the Royals dominated. Witt is slashing .279/.319/.507 with 28 long balls, 38 stolen bases, 84 RBI and 77 runs scored over 133 contests this season, cementing his status as one of the top young players in baseball.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that Bichette (quad) could return from the 10-day injured list when first eligible Sept. 8, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Bichette is traveling with the Blue Jays and did some running, hitting and light fielding work ahead of Friday's series opener at Colorado. The 25-year-old shortstop was just placed on the IL this past Tuesday after being diagnosed with a right quad strain, but the issue is apparently relatively minor. Ernie Clement has been filling in at short for Toronto.

Baez (undisclosed) remains out of the lineup Friday versus the White Sox.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Thursday that Baez was "beat up a little bit," and now the 30-year-old shortstop is sitting for a third consecutive game. Zack Short will fill in and bat ninth at Chicago.

Houston activated Kessinger (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Kessinger has been away from the Astros since Aug. 19 due to COVID-like symptoms. The 26-year-old infielder returns to a .194/.293/.333 slash line through his first 41 major-league plate appearances.

Cleveland recalled Tena from Triple-A Columbus on Friday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Tena earns a September call-up to the Guardians after slashing .275/.359/.419 with eight homers and 16 steals in 96 games this summer between Double-A and Triple-A. The 22-year-old can back up multiple spots on the infield as Cleveland aims to gain ground in the AL Central standings.

Volpe went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's extra-inning loss to the Tigers.

Volpe recorded both extra-base hits in the contest for New York. His fourth-inning double was negated when he was picked off second base, but he made up for that lapse with a clutch homer in the ninth, slugging a two-out, three-run, game-tying shot off Detroit closer Alex Lange that resulted in the contest going into extra innings. The long ball was Volpe's 20th of the campaign, and he's already recorded 21 thefts, making him the first player in franchise history to put up a 20-20 performance as a rookie. Volpe had also recorded a 20-20 season in each of his previous two years in the minors.

The Red Sox optioned Hamilton to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

With Wilyer Abreu returning from the paternity list, Hamilton will end up being Boston's roster casualty. The 25-year-old infielder is just 4-for-33 across 15 games in the majors this season.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Baez is not in the lineup for the second straight game Thursday because "he's beat up a little bit and not feeling 100 percent," Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Hinch didn't specify what exactly Baez is dealing with, but it's probably safe to say he's battling some general soreness but should be ready to return to the lineup over the weekend. Zach McKinstry is playing shortstop for Detroit on Thursday versus the Yankees.