MLB Player News

Fletcher is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Fletcher will cede his spot in the middle infield to Andrew Velazquez for the second game in a row, despite having gone 4-for-10 with two doubles in his first three contests since returning from the 60-day injured list. Considering Velazquez has produced a lowly .487 OPS over 257 plate appearances this season, Fletcher looks like the better bet to ultimately emerge as the preferred option in the middle infield alongside Luis Rengifo.

Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

The lefty-hitting Smith will retreat to the bench while southpaw Reid Detmers takes the mound for the Angels. Fellow rookie Ezequiel Duran will pick up the start at third base in place of Smith.

Seager (lower leg) remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

He'll be on the bench for the third game in a row with a right leg contusion, and the Rangers aren't yet dismissing the possibility of the three-time All-Star requiring a stint on the injured list, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Though Grant speculates that Seager could be available as a designated hitter for Monday's game against the Orioles, an IL stint would grow likelier if the 28-year-old remains out of the lineup.

Allen will start at second base and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the White Sox.

Allen is making his third straight start and appears to be picking up more playing time at the expense of Vimael Machin, who is on the bench for the second time in three contests. If Jonah Bride re-emerges as the Athletics' primary third baseman, Allen would face less competition for reps out of the middle infield.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

According to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, manager Dusty Baker said Diaz was initially penciled in to start Sunday, but the Astros opted to withhold the 31-year-old from the lineup to give him a chance to rest his legs. Chas McCormick will draw the start in left field in place of Diaz, who had been included in the starting nine in six of the previous seven contests.

DeJong went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Nationals.

Following the Cardinals' trade of Edmundo Sosa to the Phillies on Saturday, DeJong was called up and immediately inserted into the lineup. DeJong went yard in the fifth inning and added a sac fly in the eighth, though his three RBI weren't enough to push St. Louis to victory. The shortstop spent over two months in the minors, where he displayed solid power with 17 long balls and an .865 OPS despite batting .249 across 51 games with Triple-A Memphis. The righty-hitting 28-year-old started versus a right-handed pitcher (Paolo Espino), so there could be a chance for him to grab a starting role in the final two months of the season. Tommy Edman has been playing shortstop often lately, though he could move back to second base and push Nolan Gorman to the designated hitter spot if DeJong commands more playing time.

Edman is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

Edman is 1-for-12 with a stolen base and a run over the past three games and will receive a day off in the series finale at Washington. Paul DeJong will start at shortstop and bat seventh.

Arcia is starting at second base and batting eighth Sunday versus Arizona.

It's the third consecutive start for Arcia, and the second straight to come against a right-handed pitcher with Merrill Kelly on the mound Sunday for Arizona. Robinson Cano has the platoon advantage but has a .377 OPS through nine games with Atlanta, so it appears Arcia is back as the primary option at the keystone.

Castillo was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Castillo has been up in the majors all season but has seen limited playing time of late, and he'll head to the minors while in the midst of a 2-for-19 slump. Overall the 24-year-old has a .201/.245/.368 slash line with 10 home runs and 25 RBI in 84 games this year. Bryan Reynolds was reinstated from the paternity list in a corresponding move.

Lindor went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's 4-0 win against the Marlins.

Lindor singled home a run in the third inning and slammed a 424-foot solo homer in the eighth. He finished with his fourth three-hit performance of the campaign and notched his first long ball of the second half. Lindor has hit safely in 17 of his past 18 contests and is slashing .329/.395/.575 with four homers, 12 RBI and a stolen base over that span.