MLB Player News

Okamoto is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals.

Okamoto started the previous five games but will hit the bench Sunday after going 4-for-21 (.190) with a double, a homer and nine strikeouts during that span. The Japanese third baseman has a .606 OPS through 21 games in July, which has dropped his season-long slash line down to .224/.304/.441 in 425 plate appearances.

The Mariners reinstated Refsnyder (knee) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.

Refsnyder is returning from right knee inflammation that has kept him out since the end of June. During his rehab assignment, he went 6-for-29 with a home run, three RBI and three walks. The 35-year-old, who typically platoons against lefties, is starting against Dodgers southpaw Justin Wrobleski on Tuesday. In a corresponding move, the Mariners designated Buddy Kennedy for assignment.

Encarnacion-Strand is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Tigers, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

After making six consecutive starts at third base, Encarnacion-Strand finds himself on the bench Tuesday for a second straight game. The 26-year-old has a 1.155 OPS with three homers in seven games since getting promoted by Baltimore in mid-July, but Coby Mayo will pick up a second straight start the hot corner after homering in Monday's contest.

Basallo (shoulder) will be reassessed to resume baseball activities during the Orioles' upcoming homestand, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Basallo has been shut down from all activities due to an inflamed right shoulder that sent him to the injured list last Wednesday. The Orioles will begin a series at home against Philadelphia on Friday. At that point, Basallo could be cleared to begin ramping up, and a clearer timeline for his return may be established.

Manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that he expects Flaherty (forearm) to be on the injured list beyond the 15-day minimum, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander landed on the shelf last week due to right forearm inflammation and has already improved after receiving some treatment, but he apparently remains shut down from throwing. Flaherty will be eligible to be reinstated next week, but he can be safely ruled out until at least mid-August. Until he starts throwing again, the 31-year-old likely won't have a clear timetable for his return.

Rutschman (wrist) will be reassessed to begin baseball activities during the Orioles' upcoming homestand, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Rutschman landed on the injured list July 20 and was cleared to throw over the weekend, but he has yet to resume catching or begin any other sort of activity. The earliest he can be evaluated is Friday when the O's return to Baltimore to play the Phillies, and he will likely require a ramp-up period and a rehab assignment before returning to action.

Mountcastle (foot) is not starting a rehab assignment Tuesday night as initially planned, and he is now being re-evaluated, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The 29-year-old was expected to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday after having progressed through his recovery from a left foot fracture at a steady rate. Manager Craig Albernaz said, "Mountcastle wasn't feeling 100 percent" and explained that "to start a rehab assignment not 100 percent is not where you want to be," Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. The Orioles will likely know more about Mountcastle on Wednesday.

Rodriguez (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Fort Myers on Tuesday, Theodore Tollefson of ZoneCoverage.com reports.

Rodriguez has finally been cleared to play in games following surgery in late May to repair the UCL in his left thumb. The 23-year-old has been highly productive for Triple-A St. Paul this season when on the field, slashing .247/.417/.506 with six long balls in 25 games. Rodriguez could push to debut before the end of the 2026 campaign if he's able to stay healthy, but that's a big "if," given his track record.

Carpenter (foot) received a cortisone injection Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

The 28-year-old landed on the injured list Monday with left foot plantar fasciitis and didn't waste much time before getting treatment. Plantar fasciitis often carries a lengthy recovery timeline, but it's possible Carpenter's situation is more of an issue of pain tolerance, at least in the short term.

Caballero is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the White Sox.

Caballero is 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts over his last five games, so he'll get a day to regroup. Anthony Volpe is covering shortstop for the Yankees.