-
Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Absent from starting lineup
Baez isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Athletics, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Baez will begin Monday's matchup on the bench, which allows Trey Sweeney to start at shortstop and Wenceel Perez to man center field. Baez appears to be in need of a reset after going 4-for-22 with two RBI, two runs scored and seven strikeouts over his last seven games.
-
Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Taking back reins at 3B
Jung will start at third base and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Angels.
The Rangers benched Jung for four out of five games from Aug. 17 through this past Thursday, but he appears to have taken back control of the primary starting gig at third base from Cody Freeman. Jung will pick up his fourth consecutive start Monday after he went 4-for-10 with one home run, one walk, four runs and two RBI during the Rangers' weekend sweep of the Guardians.
-
Jack Perkins RP | ATH
Athletics' Jack Perkins: No timetable for return
Perkins (shoulder) received a subacromial injection Monday and is without a timetable for a return, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Perkins was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a strained right shoulder, and the club is still uncertain as to how much time he'll miss. Whether he's able to pitch again this season should become more apparent when/if he's cleared to begin a throwing program. Osvaldo Bido is expected to replace Perkins in the rotation in Tuesday's game against the Tigers.
-
Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Sitting after three straight starts
Duran is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
Duran will head to the bench for the series opener, but he had started in each of the last three contests and should be in store for an uptick in playing time after Marcus Semien (foot) was deactivated Saturday with a likely season-ending injury. Josh Smith will cover second base Monday, but if the Rangers prefer to use the versatile Smith in the outfield while Evan Carter (wrist) is on the shelf, Duran could have a fairly clear path to making regular starts at the keystone.
-
Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Picking up rest Monday
Higashioka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
After starting at catcher or designated hitter in each of the previous three games, Higashioka looks to be receiving a breather Monday. Jonah Heim will fill in for him behind the plate in the series opener.
-
Niko Kavadas 1B | LAA
Angels' Niko Kavadas: Filling in for injured Schanuel
Kavadas will start at first base and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Rangers.
Kavadas will remain in the lineup for a second straight game and could see the bulk of the starts at first base against right-handed pitching after the Angels placed Nolan Schanuel (wrist) on the 10-day injured list Sunday. Over his 114 career plate appearances in the majors, Kavadas owns an unremarkable .180/.281/.320 slash line and a monstrous 38.6 percent strikeout rate, but the 26-year-old had displayed excellent pop at Triple-A Salt Lake this season (23 home runs in 105 games).
-
Christian Moore 2B | LAA
Angels' Christian Moore: Idle for third time in five games
Moore is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers.
Moore will head to the bench for the third time in five games while Luis Rengifo picks up a start at second base. The Angels are currently running a three-man rotation of Moore, Rengifo and Yoan Moncada between the keystone and third base, but Moncada's playing time appears to be the most stable of the trio at the moment. Moore is slashing just .184/.273/.224 with a 30.9 percent strikeout rate since the beginning of August and could begin to play second fiddle to Rengifo at second base on a more frequent basis if he's unable to improve his production at the plate.
-
Colt Keith 3B | DET
Tigers' Colt Keith: Back in action
Keith (illness) is batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter Monday against the Athletics, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Keith was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to illness, but it won't force him to miss more than one game. He'll aim to break out of a cold spell Monday evening after going 0-for-8 with one walk over his last four games.
-
Denzel Clarke CF | ATH
Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Not hitting or running yet
The Athletics announced Monday that Clarke (adductor) has yet to resume running or hitting, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Initially placed on the injured list July 22 due to a Grade 2 right adductor strain, Clarke made a rehab appearance for Triple-A Las Vegas on Aug. 15 but suffered a new Grade 2 strain of the same adductor in that game. While the Athletics have indicated that Clarke has made progress since then, he doesn't appear to be close to a return from the IL.
-
Luis Severino SP | ATH
Athletics' Luis Severino: Slated for sim game
Severino (oblique) will throw a simulated game Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Severino continues to work his way back from a left oblique strain, which resulted in him being placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 9. The veteran right-hander has apparently responded well to throwing bullpen sessions, so he'll take the next step forward in his recovery by facing hitters Wednesday. The Athletics will evaluate Severino following the sim game before determining whether he's ready to re-enter the big-league rotation next week, or if he'll first require a minor-league rehab start before being activated from the injured list. Severino posted a 6-11 record with a 4.82 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 136.1 innings prior to landing on the IL.