MLB Player News

Caratini will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Caratini sat out the Twins' first game following the All-Star break, but he's been included in the lineup for each of the ensuing five contests while the team has gone up against three left-handed and two right-handed starters. The Twins will continue to make room for Caratini in the lineup versus lefties, but he may be stuck in more of a part-time role versus righties following Ryan Jeffers' recent return from the injured list.

Kreidler is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's tilt in Cleveland.

Kreidler had made four consecutive starts but totaled only one hit over that span. Brooks Lee will slide over to shortstop for the Twins on Wednesday.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Jeffers will retreat to the bench after he had started in five of the Twins' last six games. Alex Jackson will get the nod behind the plate in place of Jeffers, who has gone 5-for-21 with two home runs, two doubles, three walks and six RBI in six contests since returning from the injured list July 10.

Buxton is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Cleveland.

Buxton started the last two days upon his return from the injured list, but he will get a break Wednesday. Luke Keaschall will patrol center field and bat eighth for the Twins.

Hoskins is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Twins, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Hoskins slugged a pair of solo home runs in Monday's 13-4 win, but he couldn't keep the momentum going Tuesday, as he went 0-for-2 at the dish in the Guardians' 5-2 victory. He'll head to the bench for the series finale, but Hoskins should still have a path to a semi-regular role until the Guardians bring Angel Martinez (foot) back from the injured list.

Arias is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Arias had started in three of the Guardians' previous four games, but he'll likely shift into more of a utility role moving forward after Jose Ramirez (hand) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Since returning June 14 following an extended stay on the IL, Arias has played in 25 games for the Guardians and has produced a .260/.299/.397 batting line with three home runs, four stolen bases, nine runs and six RBI.

The Guardians optioned Watson to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Watson was in the middle of a modest six-game hitting streak, but on the whole he slashed just .239/.264/.341 with a 3:32 BB:K over his first 27 contests in the majors. With Watson back in the minors, Petey Halpin should continue to see an uptick in playing time.

Isbel (foot) went 1-for-2 with an RBI triple and a run scored with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Isbel led off and played three innings in center field during his first rehab game after landing on the injured list June 10 with a Grade 3 tear of a portion of his left plantar fascia. Returning to game action is a notable step in the right direction, though how the 29-year-old's foot responds throughout the rehab assignment will determine when he's ready to return to the big-league club. Before hitting the shelf, Isbel slashed .244/.298/.354 with three home runs, 11 RBI, 16 runs and five stolen bases across 56 games.

The Guardians activated Ramirez (hand) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Ramirez will skip a rehab assignment and return from a five-plus week absence due to hamate bone surgery. Players coming back from hamate bone injuries can sometimes take awhile to get all of their power back, and Ramirez not knocking off rust with some rehab games won't help his chances of hitting the ground running. That said, the superstar remains a must-start in fantasy leagues whenever he is active.

Meckler will start in left field and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Meckler is back in the starting nine for the series finale, but he appears to have firmly moved into a fourth- or fifth-outfielder role following Mike Trout's return from the injured list earlier this month. With Trout stepping back in as the everyday center fielder, Josh Lowe has been prioritized in left field ahead of Meckler, who was on the bench to start each of the last six contests. The drop in playing time is an unfortunate development for Meckler, who has held his own since being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on May 22 with a .302/.371/.411 slash line across 143 plate appearances.