MLB Player News

Baez went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Monday's 4-3 win over Seattle.

Seattle starter George Kirby entered the contest having gone 14 starts since serving up his last long ball, but Baez snapped that streak with his two-run shot in the third inning on an 0-2 slider. The homer was Baez's 18th of the campaign, giving him an outside chance of reaching 20 for his fifth straight full season (excluding the substantially shortened 2020 campaign). Baez's power has ticked up near the end of the season, as he has five long balls over his past 16 contests.

Witt went 1-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 5-2 extra-inning win over the Guardians.

Witt has struggled a bit to begin October, going 2-for-13 with two walks and two steals in three games this month. The late surge on the basepaths was ultimately enough to earn him a 30-steal season as a rookie. He's also maintained a .254/.295/.431 slash line with 20 home runs, 80 RBI, 82 runs scored, 31 doubles and six triples through 148 contests.

Franco went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and triple in Monday's loss to the Red Sox.

Franco launched a leadoff homer off Rich Hill to open Monday's contest, giving the Rays an early 1-0 lead. He later added a single and a triple in the contest. The homer was his sixth of the season and first since July 2. Since returning from the 10-day injured list Sept. 9, Franco has produced a .322 average with a homer, a triple, eight doubles, 10 RBI, 12 runs and three stolen bases over 86 at-bats in 24 games.

Bogaerts (back) is expected to play Tuesday against the Rays, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Manager Alex Cora noted that Bogaerts' back tightened up when taking swings in the cage prior to first pitch, but he believes the shortstop will be ready to go Tuesday. He'll likely be re-evaluated Tuesday morning to determine his status for the second to last contest of the regular season.

Bogaerts isn't in Monday's lineup against the Rays due to back tightness, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Bogaerts is on the bench for a second consecutive game, and he's apparently dealing with a back issue. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available for Boston's final two games of the regular season Tuesday and Wednesday.

Crawford isn't starting Monday against the Tigers, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

After a two-walk, 0-for-2 performance Sunday, Crawford will get a day off Monday. In his place, Dylan Moore will start at shortstop and bat seventh.

Bogaerts isn't starting Monday against the Rays, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Bogaerts has gone just 1-for-17 with an RBI, three walks and three strikeouts over his last five games, and he'll be on the bench for a second consecutive matchup. Enrique Hernandez is starting at shortstop and batting seventh.

Allen went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 10-3 win over the Mariners.

Allen provided some extra cushion for Oakland with his sixth-inning blast. The long ball was his first since Aug. 15, and he drove in a run for the first time in five games. The shortstop has seen steady playing time in the second half, but he hasn't done much at the plate throughout the year. He has a .208/.256/.294 slash line with four homers, 18 RBI, 30 runs scored and three stolen bases through 97 contests this season.

Seager went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Angels.

Seager has gone 2-for-12 with a walk, four strikeouts and three runs scored in three games since he returned from a forearm bruise. The shortstop cooled off in September, batting .206 for the month. He's now down to a .244/.318/.456 slash line with 33 homers, 83 RBI, 90 runs scored and three stolen bases through 149 contests overall.

Soto went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Rangers.

Soto had a hot finish to September, and it's carried over to October with three-hit efforts in each of his last two games. He's also knocked in at least one run in five of his last seven contests. The shortstop now sports a .413 batting average with a home run, five doubles, nine RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base through his first 50 plate appearances in the majors.