MLB Player News

Taylor went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a double in Thursday's 7-3 win over Kansas City.

Taylor entered in the third inning after Mark Vientos (hand) was forced out of the game. The outfielder certainly made the most of the opportunity, tying the game 2-2 with a 380-foot shot off Michael Wacha in the fifth inning for his sixth homer of the year. Taylor has swung the bat well in nine games following a month-long stint on the IL, going 7-for-17 (.412) with three homers. Overall, he's slashing .219/.246/.421 with 17 RBI and 14 runs scored across 122 plate appearances this season.

Meyer will not start Sunday's game against the Guardians as the Marlins give him extra rest heading into the All-Star break, Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com reports.

Sunday is Meyer's turn through the rotation, but the Marlins will instead go with a bullpen game that day. Meyer is healthy but has already logged 108 innings -- he's closing in on his professional high of 115 frames -- and the club wants to be careful with his workload. The right-hander was selected to the NL All-Star team but will not pitch in the Midsummer Classic, either. Meyer finishes the first half with a 9-1 record, 2.58 ERA and 116:38 K:BB.

Mets interim manager Andy Green said Thursday that Vientos has been diagnosed with a fractured right hand and will be placed on the 10-day injured list, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.

Vientos was struck by a 92-mph sinker thrown by Michael Wacha in the second inning of Thursday's game versus the Royals, and imaging revealed the unfortunate news. Vientos will likely be sidelined until sometime in August, though the Mets have yet to divulge a timeline for the infielder. The 26-year-old has mainly been used in a short-side platoon at first base over the past five weeks.

The Phillies recalled Shugart from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

He's grabbing the roster spot vacated by the injured Tanner Banks (forearm). Shugart has produced a 4.97 ERA and 34:11 K:BB across 29 frames for the Phillies this season. He's been hurt by the long ball, having served up seven homers.

The Phillies placed Banks on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain.

It's unclear when Banks' forearm began bothering him, but he allowed five runs and four home runs over 1.1 innings in his two appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley over the weekend. Chase Shugart is up from the minors to take Banks' spot on the roster and in the bullpen.

Manaea (2-4) earned the win Thursday over the Royals, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk across seven innings. He struck out six.

After giving up a home run to Lane Thomas on the first pitch he threw Thursday, Manaea settled in and held Kansas City to just two runs over his subsequent six frames en route to his second win this season. Manaea's posted a 3.66 ERA across 51.2 frames in his last 11 appearances. He's lowered his ERA to 4.56 overall through 75 innings this year with a 1.32 WHIP and 74:24 K:BB.

Reds manager Terry Francona said that McLain is not in Thursday's lineup against the Phillies due to a calf issue, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

It seems at this juncture to be a day-to-day injury, but with the All-Star break looming, the Reds could choose to put McLain on the injured list if he doesn't improve in a hurry. He's been playing center field lately versus lefties, but because McLain is banged up it will be TJ Friedl in center against southpaw Jesus Luzardo on Thursday.

Crooks is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Brewers.

Crooks has now been in the lineup just once over the Cardinals' last eight games. Part of that has been the schedule, as they've faced five lefties over that span and the lefty-swinging Crooks doesn't play against southpaws. Additionally, Ivan Herrera typically catches for Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante, who is starting Thursday. The situation makes for a frustrating playing-time crunch for Crooks.

Fermin will start at third base and bat eighth in Thursday's game against the Brewers.

It's the eighth consecutive start for Fermin, who is 8-for-26 with one home run and three doubles over that stretch. The start is also Fermin's fourth straight at third base versus a right-hander, as he seems to have inched past Blaze Jordan as the Cardinals' preferred option at the hot corner.

Jordan is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Brewers.

Jordan's playing time has slipped lately, as this is the third straight game versus a righty that he's been out of the lineup and the fourth time across the last seven tilts that he hasn't started. The rookie infielder is just 4-for-28 at the plate over his last 30 plate appearances. Jose Fermin will cover third base for the Cardinals in Thursday's series finale.