MLB Player News

The White Sox placed Richards on the bereavement/family medical emergency list Thursday.

Richards will likely return to the active roster after the All-Star break. His spot on the roster will be taken by Tyler Davis.

Alonso went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 9-7 loss to the Cubs.

The slugging first baseman gave Baltimore a brief lead in the fourth inning when he took Colin Rea deep. It was Alonso's first homer in July and his 20th of the season, and while he hasn't yet put together the kind of power surge with his new team that Mets fans grew accustomed to seeing, he's posted a .275/.382/.533 slash line with nine long balls and 26 RBI in 33 games since the beginning of June.

O'Neill went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 9-7 loss to the Cubs.

The two teams combined for nine long balls on the night, and O'Neill made his contributions even though he began the game on the bench -- after launching a pinch-hit homer off Drew Pomeranz in the seventh inning, he went yard again in the eighth off Caleb Thielbar as Baltimore tried to put together a late rally from a 9-3 deficit. O'Neill has five homers on the season in 55 contests, but three of them have come in his last 10 plate appearances. Over his last 16 games, the veteran outfielder has compiled a .273/.360/.591 slash line and pushed for consistent playing time, but his 34.0 percent strikeout rate during that stretch remains a red flag.

Kremer (1-2) took the loss Wednesday as the Orioles fell 9-7 to the Cubs, giving up four runs -- all on solo home runs -- on six total hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out four.

Pete Crow-Armstrong took Kremer deep twice, while Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly also went back-to-back in the fifth inning. Kremer left the mound after 92 pitches (55 strikes), and while his 24:9 K:B through 22 innings on the season is encouraging, the right-hander has also served up nine homers in his four big-league starts, leading to a 4.09 ERA despite a 1.00 WHIP. However, as long as he can stay healthy, Kremer seems locked into a rotation spot on the other side of the All-Star break, barring some major trade acquisitions by the O's.

The Angels signed Reyes to a minor-league contract Wednesday.

Reyes recently opted out of his minor-league deal with the Padres after posting a .310/.408/.491 batting line with six home runs, 15 steals and a 35:36 BB:K in 56 games with Triple-A El Paso. The 32-year-old utility player will aim to eventually get a chance in the majors, but he'll report to Triple-A Salt Lake for now.

Rea (7-5) picked up the win Wednesday, giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.1 innings in a 9-7 victory over the Orioles. He struck out two.

The veteran right-hander did just about the bare minimum to record the win, leaving the mound after 91 pitches (58 strikes) with the Cubs ahead 4-3, and their offense was able to stay ahead of the bullpen's stumbles. After going winless over five outings in June, Rea has won two straight starts to begin July. He'll take a 4.75 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 70:36 K:BB through 94.2 innings into the All-Star break.

Massey is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Mets.

With the Mets starting southpaw Sean Manaea, the lefty-swinging Massey will begin Thursday's game on the bench. The hot-hitting Tyler Tolbert will handle second base in Massey's stead.

Jensen is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

The left-handed-hitting Jensen started at catcher each of the last two days, so he'll get some rest during Thursday's matinee as the Mets send southpaw Sean Manaea to the bump. Luke Maile is doing the catching and Salvador Perez will play first base for the Royals.

Fermin (head) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, going 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Fermin served as the Chihuahuas' designated hitter, contributing an RBI single in one of his four trips to the dish. The 31-year-old is working his way back from a head bruise and is tracking toward being activated at the start of the second half.

The Pirates signed Kessinger to a minor-league contract Wednesday.

Kessinger -- who had been in the Mets organization -- will help backfill the organization's shortstop depth following the injury to Konnor Griffin (finger). The 28-year-old Kessinger missed the beginning of this season with a significant hamstring strain and slashed just .151/.242/.264 in 17 games with Triple-A Syracuse.