MLB Player News

Gurriel (neck) took grounders on the field Saturday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Gurriel landed on the 10-day injured list Friday after he missed three consecutive games due to neck stiffness, and he's eligible to return as early as Aug. 13. The team hasn't yet revealed when he'll be back in action, but it's encouraging to see him resume activities shortly after his placement on the IL.

Mountcastle is still feeling concussion symptoms and may need a trip to the injured list, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Mountcastle hurt his head while attempting a steal Friday and was forced to exit the game. While he's yet to be removed from the roster, he won't start Saturday's game against the Rays and could be placed on the concussion injured list soon. Trey Mancini will start at first base in his absence, with Anthony Santander serving as the designated hitter.

O'Hearn will sit Saturday against the Cardinals.

The Royals' regular starting nine will be a man short due to the lack of the designated hitter in the National League park. O'Hearn served as the right fielder Friday, but that spot will be occupied by Hunter Dozier in the second game of the series.

Lowe will sit Saturday against Oakland.

Lowe hasn't done much thus far in the second half, hitting.206/.296/.286 with zero homers in 19 games. Curtis Terry will be the first baseman in his absence, with Adolis Garcia resting his legs in Terry's usual spot as the designated hitter.

Vaughn isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Cubs, Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Vaughn had started in each of the last four games, and he went 4-for-13 with a homer, three runs, two RBI and three walks. Eloy Jimenez will start in left field and bat fourth in Saturday's contest at Wrigley Field.

Mountcastle is being evaluated for a concussion following his removal from Friday's game against the Rays, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Mountcastle took a hard tag to the side of the head while attempting to steal second base in the first inning Friday. Although he initially stayed in the game, the 24-year-old was removed in the third inning under the league's concussion protocols. If team doctors confirm a concussion, Mountcastle will need to pass several tests before he's cleared to return.

Mountcastle was removed from Friday's game against the Rays due to an apparent injury, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Mountcastle was shaken up while attempting to steal second base in the first inning, but he was initially able to remain in the game. However, he was replaced defensively in the top of the third inning after going 1-for-1 with an RBI. The nature and severity of the injury aren't yet clear.

France went 2-for-4 with a double in a loss to the Yankees on Thursday.

France continues to demonstrate consistency at the plate, now sporting a .293/.339/.466 slash line across his last 14 games following his fifth multi-hit effort in that sample. The 27-year-old has been a solid all-around fantasy contributor, and his modest 16.6 percent strikeout rate has helped keep him a consistent presence on the bases (.351 on-base percentage).

Gurriel was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with neck stiffness, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Gurriel missed the previous three games with the stiff neck, and now the club has determined the issue is severe enough to place the first baseman on the IL. The move is retroactive to Tuesday, so Gurriel will be eligible for activation Aug. 13 against the Angels, though it's not yet known if he could require additional time to recover. Jacob Wilson and Taylor Jones were recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land, with Robel Garcia being sent down in corresponding roster moves.

Torkelson's last 23 games in Double-A have seen him go 16-for-75 (.213) with four homers, 13 RBI, 13 runs and a 17:24 BB:K.

Even in the midst of this slump, which has driven his batting average for Erie down to .241, Torkelson's pop and plate discipline have been readily apparent, which is why he still has a .369 OBP and .511 slugging percentage. It's likely that the 2020 draft's No. 1 pick has just been getting unlucky, as he owns a .250 BABIP in Double-A play. He remains one of the game's top prospects, but that subpar batting average may offer an intriguing buy-low opportunity in dynasty formats.