MLB Player News

Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

Kepler will get a breather for the series finale after he started in left field Friday and Saturday following his reinstatement from an 80-game suspension. Lourdes Gurriel will start in left field Sunday, but Kepler appears likely to get a long look as a strong-side platoon player.

Moreno is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

Adrian Del Castillo will receive a turn behind the plate while Moreno rests for the series finale. Moreno had started the last four contests, going 5-for-14 with two walks, two runs and an RBI while extending his hitting streak to a season-long 11 games.

Young is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

After starting at first base in the first two games of the series and going 1-for-6 with a walk, an RBI and a run, the left-handed hitter will retreat to the bench versus Jesus Luzardo. Eric Wagaman will replace Young at first base and bat cleanup.

Rincones is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.

The Mets are going with a left-handed opening pitcher (Cionel Perez) in the series finale, so the left-handed-hitting Rincones will cede his spot in the outfield to the right-handed-hitting Derek Hill. Since being promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on June 12, Rincones has hit .118 with one home run and a 0:9 BB:K over 34 plate appearances while mainly being used in the strong side of a platoon in right field.

Eldridge went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Saturday's 5-0 win over Atlanta.

Eldridge doubled in the second inning before coming around to score, marking his second two-bagger in as many days. The 21-year-old has been struggling at the plate of late, batting .111 with three runs scored across 32 plate appearances over his last eight games. Overall, he's slashing .279/.374/.486 with 22 runs scored, 16 RBI and six home runs in 163 plate appearances this season.

Ewing is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

The rookie center fielder has regularly started against left-handed pitching since getting called up by the Mets in mid-May, but he'll receive a day off Sunday versus Jesus Luzardo. Ewing started the previous seven contests and went 8-for-24 with four walks, a double and a homer during that span.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Horwitz (hamstring) will remain out for"weeks, not days," and the first baseman isn't expected to return from the 10-day injured list until after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Pittsburgh placed Horwitz on the shelf Thursday, and Cherington's comments imply that the 28-year-old is dealing with more than a mild strain of his left hamstring and will require more than the minimum 10 days to make a full recovery. Ryan O'Hearn will make a fourth consecutive start at first base Sunday and should serve as the primary option at the position until at least mid-July. Before getting hurt, Horwitz had settled in as the Pirates' leadoff hitter and had slashed .280/.386/.455 with a 40:40 BB:K, 10 home runs, 33 RBI and 36 runs on the season.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that he expects Cruz (hand) to return from the 10-day injured list at some point in July, most likely after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The timeline laid out by Cherington isn't an unexpected one, after the GM had previously said June 14 that Cruz was likely to need 4-to-6 weeks to recover from non-displaced fourth and fifth metacarpal fractures in his left hand. Cruz has made positive strides in his recovery over the past two weeks and is scheduled to report to the Pirates' facility in Florida this week to accelerate his baseball activities.

Santos (adductor) was reinstated from Triple-A Sacramento's 7-day injured list Wednesday, and he allowed three earned runs on two hits and three walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning in Friday's 13-6 win over Las Vegas.

Santos was placed on Sacramento's 7-day injured list May 26 due to a right adductor strain. He began a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on June 19 before returning to action with Sacramento and starting Friday's contest, during which he threw 16 of his 32 pitches for strikes. Over 13 appearances (one start) at Triple-A, the right-hander owns a 6.14 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 11:10 K:BB across 14.2 innings.

The Giants reinstated Ramos (quadriceps) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll start at designated hitter and bat third in the Giants' series finale versus Atlanta.

The 26-year-old worked as San Francisco's primary left fielder prior to suffering a quadriceps strain in mid-May, but he's now expected to work more in right field since Jung Hoo Lee has shifted to center to cover for the injured Harrison Bader (foot). Through 176 plate appearances this season, Ramos has a .267/.307/.424 slash line with four home runs, 20 RBI and 19 runs scored.