MLB Player News
-
Jake Burger 3B | TEX
Rangers' Jake Burger: Headed for wrist surgery
Burger said after Sunday's 9-8 extra-inning loss to the Guardians that he plans to undergo surgery later this week to repair a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Burger initially sprained the wrist in mid-August and spent about two weeks on the injured list before returning to action for the final month of the season. However, Burger struggled to a .206 average while striking out at a 28.4 percent clip in September, bringing his slash line down to .236/.269/.419 over 103 games during his first campaign in Texas. Burger -- who also required stints on the shelf due to oblique and quadriceps injuries -- had received a cortisone shot to relieve discomfort in his wrist prior to his return from the IL, but he's hopeful that surgery will offer more permanent relief after he felt the tendon "popping" in and out of place over the past few weeks. Burger is under club control through 2028, and despite his disappointing debut season in Texas, he currently projects to head into spring training atop the depth chart at first base.
-
Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Caps off season with 36th homer
Kurtz went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 9-2 loss against the Royals.
The rookie slugger provided Oakland's only offense of the night with a 423-foot blast off Sam Long in the eighth inning, marking his 36th homer of the season and his seventh since September 10. Over that span, he hit .233 with 13 RBI while continuing to show his game-changing power. Kurtz looks like the clear favorite for AL Rookie of the Year honors, as he'll finish the regular season with an impressive .290/.383/.619 slash line, 26 doubles, 86 RBI and 90 runs scored to go along with his outstanding long-ball total across 488 plate appearances.
-
Ben Rice C | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Powers Yanks with pair of homers
Rice went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Orioles.
Rice was a majority of the Yankees' offense Sunday as he took Kyle Bradish deep in the first inning to open the scoring before launching another long ball in the eighth that gave New York a late lead for good. The performance marked Rice's second multi-homer game of the season and pushed his total to 26 on the year. The 26-year-old wraps up the year with a respectable .255/.337/.499 slash line alongside 28 doubles, 65 RBI and 74 runs scored across 528 plate appearances.
-
Rowdy Tellez 1B | TEX
Rangers' Rowdy Tellez: Two straight absences to close season
Tellez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.
The left-handed-hitting Tellez will remain absent from the starting nine for the second straight day to close out the season while the Guardians send another southpaw (Logan Allen) to the hill. Jake Burger will start at first base in Tellez's place.
-
Nolan Schanuel 1B | LAA
Angels' Nolan Schanuel: Resting again Sunday
Schanuel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Schanuel recently returned from a wrist injury, and though the Angels haven't indicated that he suffered an aggravation of the issue, he'll be held out of the lineup for a second straight game to close out the season. Carter Kieboom will fill in for Schanuel at first base.
-
Christian Walker 1B | HOU
Astros' Christian Walker: Idle for season finale
Walker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
With Houston having been officially eliminated from playoff contention following Saturday's action, Walker and other key regulars will sit for the season finale. Victor Caratini will step in at first base in place of Walker, who has hit .238 with 27 home runs, two stolen bases, 88 RBI and 72 runs over 154 games during his first campaign in Houston.
-
Edouard Julien 2B | MIN
Twins' Edouard Julien: Idle against another lefty
Julien is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
He'll remain on the bench for the second day in a row while the Phillies send another lefty (Cristopher Sanchez) to the hill. If he's not needed off the bench Sunday, Julien will wrap up the season with a .220/.309/.324 slash line, three home runs, 13 runs and 12 RBI over 208 plate appearances.
-
Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: On bench Sunday
Gonzalez is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Gonzalez was seeing consistent run at second base, though this is now his second consecutive absence to close out the regular season. The 29-year-old has proven to be an excellent fit with the Red Sox, as he's slashed .290/.329/.457 over the past two regular seasons, and if he's healthy he figures to serve as a starter in the playoffs.
-
Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Mariners' Josh Naylor: Remains out Sunday
Naylor (groin) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
The Mariners won't risk Naylor ahead of the playoffs after he was pulled from Friday's game with groin tightness. Luke Raley will start at first base and bat sixth against left-hander Clayton Kershaw in Seattle's final regular-season game of 2025.