MLB Player News

Walls will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls will pick up his sixth consecutive start at shortstop and may have at least temporarily reclaimed a near-everyday role from Jose Caballero. The Rays will have room in the middle infield for both players while Brandon Lowe (finger) is on the bench Monday for a fourth straight game, but Walls has made a case for continuing to see regular playing time once Lowe returns. Over his last five starts, Walls has gone 5-for-15 with a home run, three walks, five RBI, four runs and two stolen bases.

Buxton (hip) said Monday that he's been running without issue for the last few days, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

He was also able to do some defensive drills Monday. Buxton had to be pulled off his rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul after he felt renewed soreness in his right hip during a game on Sept. 4, but he might he might be ready to test things out in game action again soon. It's not clear whether the Twins would ask him to resume a rehab assignment or consider immediately putting him back onto the active roster. Buxton has been shelved since mid-August.

Aranda is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The lefty-hitting Aranda had started in each of the Rays' last three games -- all against right-handed pitching -- going 2-for-11 with a double, a walk and two runs. He'll be on the bench Monday against a lefty (Cristopher Sanchez), but Aranda's opportunities to play against right-handed pitching could take a hit as soon as Brandon Lowe (finger) is able to return to the lineup. Lowe is on the bench Monday for a fourth straight game and remains day-to-day.

Rodriguez (lat) could face hitters at some point this week during the Orioles' road trip, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez began throwing off a mound last week and should be able to take the next step in his recovery soon. The right-hander has been sidelined since early August with a right lat strain and will surely need a rehab start or two before rejoining the Orioles' rotation, so he's probably looking at a late-September return even if all goes well.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone suggested Monday that Verdugo is likely to see his playing time take a hit following outfielder Jasson Dominguez's promotion from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

While Boone didn't explicitly say Verdugo is no longer a starter, he noted that Aaron Judge will play center field most days, Giancarlo Stanton will be the designated hitter most days and Dominguez will play "a lot." Boone had previously stood by Verdugo, even as the veteran outfielder has slashed just .235/.295/.356 in 137 games. However, the skipper finally looks ready to embrace a starting outfield trio of Judge, Dominguez and Juan Soto more often than not, while Stanton occupies the DH spot. The Yankees will make room in the lineup in Monday's game against the Royals for Verdugo, who will start in left field and bat ninth while Stanton finds himself as the odd man out of the lineup.

Paris (lower body) has slashed .103/.133/.276 with a 1:12 BB:K in seven games since being activated from Triple-A Salt Lake's 7-day injured list Sept. 1.

Paris had been out of action for nearly two months before he returned to the Salt Lake lineup. The 22-year-old has struggled to find a rhythm at the dish since being activated and is now holding down a weak .641 OPS with three home runs and five stolen bases over 111 plate appearances at Triple-A in 2024.

Manager Brandon Hyde relayed Monday that he wasn't sure when Mountcastle (wrist) would return from the 10-day injured list, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Mountcastle sprained his left wrist Aug. 22 against Houston while sliding into second base. He was placed on the 10-day injured list four days later, but it wasn't until Friday that he started swinging a bat by hitting off a tee. The Orioles are in a tight race in the AL East with the Yankees, but they have a comfortable lead in the AL Wild Card, so there could be caution in bringing Mountcastle back into the fold to avoid aggravating his wrist injury. From the end of the All-Star break to his placement on the IL, Mountcastle had a slash line of .259/.296/.370 with one home run and 18 RBI across 115 plate appearances.

The Guardians recalled Cantillo from Triple-A Columbus on Monday.

Cantillo will make a start Monday against the White Sox. Ben Lively had been in line to take the hill Monday, but Lively has struggled lately and will have his turn pushed back or perhaps skipped altogether. The left-handed Cantillo has produced an unsightly 7.71 ERA and 15:9 K:BB over 18.2 innings in four starts and one relief appearance with the Guardians this season.

Westburg (hand) was spotted fielding grounders while the Orioles were warming up prior to Monday's game against the Red Sox, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Westburg still remains without a clear timeline to return from the 10-day injured list, but the fact that he traveled with the team to Boston and took part in some baseball activities Monday while no longer sporting a cast on his fractured right hand can be taken as a positive sign. The young infielder has been on the shelf since Aug. 1 with the injury, so he'll likely require a rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie or Triple-A Norfolk before he makes his return from the IL.

The Angels announced Monday that Pillar (thumb) has yet to resume baseball activities since being placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Pillar doesn't look like he'll be on track to return from the IL in the minimum 10 days while he contends with a sprained left thumb, but he should have a chance at playing again this season if he's able to increase his workouts in the coming days. The 35-year-old has already announced plans to retire after the season, so he may have some extra incentive to push for a return to the field later this month even while the Angels are on the precipice of being eliminated from playoff contention.