MLB Player News

Jones went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run against the Twins in an 8-1 victory Tuesday.

Jones broke the game open in the sixth inning with a three-run blast to center field that gave the Yankees a 7-1 lead. The 25-year-old had a quiet start to his MLB career, posting a .739 OPS across 65 games through the end of August. However, Jones has come alive in September, slashing .340/.415/.532 with two homers, 12 RBI, seven runs and one stolen base through his first 13 contests this month. He's still striking out too much -- Jones has a 34.0 percent strikeout rate in September and a 35.0 percent punchout rate overall this season -- but he's become New York's everyday center fielder, starting each of the Yankees' past 14 games at that position.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Grisham (hamstring) is "up to a pretty decent speed" in his running progression and is also doing other baseball activities, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

When Grisham was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain in early September, Boone conceded that the outfielder could miss the remainder of the regular season. A return remains up in the air, but Grisham has given himself a chance with how he's progressed in his rehab. Spencer Jones is slashing .361/.425/.528 in 10 games since taking over for Grisham in center field, and Jones could keep the starting job even if Grisham does make it back.

Bellinger went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Tuesday's 8-1 win against Minnesota.

Bellinger continued his recent power surge with a two-run blast in the first inning. The All-Star outfielder has homered four times across his past seven games, adding two doubles and four RBI during that span. Bellinger has been red hot since late August, slashing .377/.380/.594 with seven extra-base hits and 12 RBI across his past 17 contests.

Bieber's (shoulder) bullpen session has been pushed back again to either Friday or Saturday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Bieber was initially slated to throw off the mound Tuesday, but that got pushed back to Wednesday and now his bullpen session has been delayed again. The right-hander did throw on flat ground Tuesday, and he's still aiming to return before the curtains close on the regular season. Bieber hasn't pitched since Aug. 20 due to right shoulder inflammation, so even if he does return next week his workload would be relatively limited.

Yesavage (knee) will throw a bullpen session this weekend and is on track to be activated from the 15-day injured list either Sunday or Monday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Yesavage didn't fare well in a rehab appearance Tuesday with Triple-A Buffalo, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk over just two-thirds of an inning. However, the Blue Jays are fighting for a wild car spot, so they don't have the luxury of giving Yesavage more time to get sharp. Yesavage could start Sunday against the Rangers or Monday versus the Orioles, but he'll be very limited from a workload perspective.

Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Tuesday's 4-0 victory over the Reds.

Hernandez gave Los Angeles a 3-0 lead with his two-run blast to left field in the third inning. It was his second long ball in as many days and his third over his past seven games. Hernandez has reached base safely in 13 of his past 14 contests, slashing a robust .417/.517/.771 with four home runs, nine runs, 18 RBI and three stolen bases over that stretch. He had a quiet .706 OPS during the first half of the campaign, but since the All-Star break his OPS is at .842 across 51 games.

The Diamondbacks activated Nelson (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.

Nelson was sidelined for the past three months with a right elbow strain, but he's finally been cleared to return after yielding two runs with a 4:0 K:BB over 2.2 innings in two rehab outings with Triple-A Reno. The 28-year-old will be utilized in a relief role down the stretch for the Diamondbacks.

Lagrange (shoulder) was activated from the 7-day injured list by Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Lagrange has been sidelined for more than two months as he works his way back from a right shoulder sprain. The hard-throwing righty was moved to the bullpen at SWB in early June and posted a 5.02 ERA and 20:8 K:BB over 14.1 innings in a relief role. Lagrange is not expected to be a candidate to pitch for the Yankees this season, but perhaps he could change minds if he looks good in the coming days at the team's top minor-league affiliate.

Jenkins is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Yankees.

It's the second straight day that the left-handed-swinging Jenkins has been out of the lineup against a lefty (in this case, Carlos Rodon). Jenkins has really struggled early on in his big-league tenure, going 4-for-45 (.089) with a 30.2 percent strikeout rate. Emmanuel Rodriguez is in center field for Minnesota on Wednesday.

McKinstry is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Toronto.

McKinstry started the previous three games in right field for the Tigers, but he'll exit the lineup for Wednesday's matinee. Brett Callahan will patrol right field and will bat eighth as the Tigers try to complete the series sweep.