MLB Player News

Arias is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Arias had started in three of the Guardians' previous four games, but he'll likely shift into more of a utility role moving forward after Jose Ramirez (hand) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Since returning June 14 following an extended stay on the IL, Arias has played in 25 games for the Guardians and has produced a .260/.299/.397 batting line with three home runs, four stolen bases, nine runs and six RBI.

The Guardians optioned Watson to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Watson was in the middle of a modest six-game hitting streak, but on the whole he slashed just .239/.264/.341 with a 3:32 BB:K over his first 27 contests in the majors. With Watson back in the minors, Petey Halpin should continue to see an uptick in playing time.

Isbel (foot) went 1-for-2 with an RBI triple and a run scored with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Isbel led off and played three innings in center field during his first rehab game after landing on the injured list June 10 with a Grade 3 tear of a portion of his left plantar fascia. Returning to game action is a notable step in the right direction, though how the 29-year-old's foot responds throughout the rehab assignment will determine when he's ready to return to the big-league club. Before hitting the shelf, Isbel slashed .244/.298/.354 with three home runs, 11 RBI, 16 runs and five stolen bases across 56 games.

The Guardians activated Ramirez (hand) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Ramirez will skip a rehab assignment and return from a five-plus week absence due to hamate bone surgery. Players coming back from hamate bone injuries can sometimes take awhile to get all of their power back, and Ramirez not knocking off rust with some rehab games won't help his chances of hitting the ground running. That said, the superstar remains a must-start in fantasy leagues whenever he is active.

Meckler will start in left field and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Meckler is back in the starting nine for the series finale, but he appears to have firmly moved into a fourth- or fifth-outfielder role following Mike Trout's return from the injured list earlier this month. With Trout stepping back in as the everyday center fielder, Josh Lowe has been prioritized in left field ahead of Meckler, who was on the bench to start each of the last six contests. The drop in playing time is an unfortunate development for Meckler, who has held his own since being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on May 22 with a .302/.371/.411 slash line across 143 plate appearances.

Soler is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Soler drove in two runs in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals, but he's put up a .472 OPS with no home runs across his last 18 games. The Angels will give Jo Adell a day at designated hitter, and Wade Meckler will grab a start in the outfield.

Walton will start at second base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Walton was on the bench for each of the last three games while the Athletics faced left-handed starters, but he's been included in the lineup for all three of the team's matchups versus righties since he was claimed off waivers July 12. Between his stops with the Angels and Athletics, Walton has posted an .868 OPS over 111 plate appearances on the season. While he remains productive at the dish, Walton could play fairly regularly against righties until the Athletics reclaim some health in the infield.

Guzman is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Cardinals.

Guzman could be losing his grip on the third-base job, as this is the third time over the Angels' last four games that he's been out of the lineup. Vaughn Grissom is handling third base and Oswald Peraza will play second base in Wednesday's series finale.

Bolte is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Bolte will retreat to the bench for the series finale after he had started in each of the last three games while going just 1-for-9 at the dish. Lawrence Butler will cover center field in place of the rookie, who has struggled to a .152/.204/.239 slash line in July and has yet to steal a base this month.

O'Hoppe is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Cardinals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

O'Hoppe started at catcher in the first two games of the series, so he'll get a breather during Wednesday's matinee. Tyler Heineman will be behind the plate and will bat ninth as the Angels try to complete the sweep.