MLB Player News

McKinstry went 1-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Dodgers. He also stole a base.

McKinstry showed off his speed in the last game of the first half, as he recorded his third triple of the season and seventh stolen base. The utility player got the start at shortstop with Javier Baez (back) held out, though Baez is not expected to need a stint on the injured list. McKinstry will slot into a reserve role after the All-Star break if Baez is healthy, which limits the former's fantasy upside.

Jimenez will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Jimenez will crack the lineup for the sixth time in seven contests and for the fourth game in a row as a replacement at shortstop for Bo Bichette (calf). The Blue Jays haven't yet placed Bichette on the injured list, and the team's decision thus far to eschew deactivating him implies optimism that he'll be ready to go coming out of the All-Star break. Since receiving his first big-league call-up July 2, Jimenez has gone 7-for-19 with a double, two walks, three runs and an RBI.

Bichette (calf) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Bichette will miss his fourth contest in a row due to a right calf strain, but the Blue Jays' decision not to place him on the injured list offers hope that he'll be ready to go coming out of the All-Star break. Leo Jimenez will once again fill in at shortstop in place of Bichette, who will turn his sights toward a return to the lineup next Friday versus the Tigers.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Betts (hand) has started to field softly hit groundballs, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Though Betts hasn't yet been cleared for full baseball activities, taking part in fielding work is an indication that he hasn't experienced any setbacks in his recovery from a fractured left hand. The All-Star was given an estimated 6-to-8-week timeline for a return after sustaining the injury in mid-June, and though he still has a ways to go in his rehab, Betts could be ready to come off the 10-day injured list in early August. Betts has seen the majority of his starts at shortstop this season, though the Dodgers could look to deploy him mainly at second base upon his return. Miguel Rojas has excelled as Betts' primary replacement at shortstop and could be deserving of a full-time role upon Betts' return, while second baseman Gavin Lux entered Sunday's game against the Tigers sporting a lowly .565 OPS on the season.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said prior to Sunday's game against the Giants that a recent MRI revealed that Correa (heel) is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Correa is out of the lineup for a second straight game Sunday due to the injury, which had previously been classified as a bruised right heel. The updated diagnosis is somewhat worrisome considering that Correa contended with plantar fasciitis for a significant portion of the 2023 season, though that injury was to his left foot. According to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Correa's latest case of plantar fasciitis isn't believed to be as severe as the one he dealt with in 2023, but the issue nonetheless makes it far from a lock that the veteran shortstop will be ready to go for the Twins' first game out of the All-Star break next Saturday versus the Brewers. Correa was named to his third All-Star Game and will still be in attendance for the Midsummer Classic in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday, but Hefland relays that his availability for the exhibition is up in the air at the moment due to the injury.

Correa (heel) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Correa's bruised right heel doesn't look to be a major concern, but he'll be on the bench for the second straight game and will get an extended rest over the All-Star break before the Twins return to action next Saturday versus the Brewers. Willi Castro will fill in for Correa at shortstop in Sunday's series finale in San Francisco.

The Twins selected Castillo's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday. He'll start at third base and bat seventh in the Twins' series finale in San Francisco.

Castillo joined the Twins' 26-man active roster as replacement for infielder Jose Miranda, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a low back strain. Over his 283 plate appearances with St. Paul this season, Castillo slashed a respectable .269/.375/.399 with five home runs and seven stolen bases while seeing action at all four infield spots as well as in right field. He'll likely see most of his starts against left-handed pitchers like the Giants' Blake Snell while he's up with the big club.

Mastrobuoni will start at third base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Since heading to the bench for Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Orioles, the lefty-hitting Mastrobuoni has re-emerged as a regular part of the Cubs' lineup against right-handed pitching. Mastrobuoni will close the first half of the season with his fifth consecutive start, with his uptick in playing time coinciding with Cody Bellinger's (finger) placement on the injured list Thursday. Mastrobuoni has gone 4-for-13 with an RBI and two runs over his prior four starts.

Baez (back) is not currently slated to be placed on the injured list, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Baez isn't starting Sunday against the Dodgers after being removed early from Saturday's contest due to a lower-back injury. He's available only in an emergency situation Sunday, per Jason Beck of MLB.com. However, manager A.J. Hinch described Baez's outlook as "encouraging" and said that the veteran infielder is in better spirits, and it appears that he may be good to go when play resumes Friday following the All-Star break.

Baez (back) isn't in Sunday's starling lineup versus the Dodgers, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Baez was lifted early from Saturday's extra-inning win due to a lower-back injury, and he won't start Sunday's final game before the All-Star break. In his place, Zach McKinstry is starting at shortstop and batting seventh. If Baez doesn't enter off the bench Sunday, he'll have until Detroit's next game -- July 19 in Toronto -- to recover.