MLB Player News

Diaz (hamstring) ran and hit in a simulated game Friday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Diaz is still working his way back from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined for the entirety of September. With three days left in the regular season, it appears quite likely that his campaign is over, but he could still play a role in the playoffs.

Guerrero went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Yankees.

His second-inning blast opened the scoring as the Jays clinched a playoff berth. Guerrero is heating up in the regular season's final days, collecting nine hits in the last four games including three doubles, a triple and Thursday's long ball, and on the season the 21-year-old is hitting .263 with eight homers and 32 RBI through 57 games.

Tellez (knee) continues to work through a running progression but is not expected to be ready for a potential playoff roster Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Toronto appears ticketed for the wild card, and Tellez is not expected to be an option for that round of the playoffs. However, if the team advances, he could be ready to join the fray. The Blue Jays will continue to use the designated hitter spot as a way to give everyday players a break from playing the field.

France went 2-for-4 with a run-scoring single and an RBI double in a win over the Astros on Wednesday.

France is now slashing .444/.500/.556 in his 40 plate appearances with runners in scoring position this season following another pair of clutch hits Wednesday. The 26-year-old also pushed his season line to .302/.367/.476 with his multi-hit effort, his third of the last five games.

Diaz (hamstring) is slated to take live batting practice against Jose Alvarado (shoulder) on Thursday at Tropicana Field, the Associated Press reports.

Diaz was able to also take live batting practice Tuesday and came out of the session without setbacks, but he didn't do much running and was reportedly still feeling soreness in his right leg. The 29-year-old appears unlikely to be available for any of Tampa's remaining regular-season games, with a target of an early-postseason return for the AL East champion Rays the likely goal at this point. Juan Toribio of MLB.com also reports Diaz will test himself with what manager Kevin Cash described as "right-at-them groundballs" during the session, "just see how [his] hamstrings feel in the position of fielding a groundball and then coming up and making a throw out of that."

Naylor is not in Thursday's lineup against the White Sox.

He will head to the bench with southpaw Dallas Keuchel on the hill for Chicago. Oscar Mercado is starting in left field and batting seventh.

Guerrero went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 14-1 rout of the Yankees.

Despite leaving four runners on base, Guerrero was productive in a game where five Blue Jays starters recorded multiple hits. With the second American League wild-card spot nearly clinched, Guerrero will look to continue his hot hitting through the end of the season and into the first postseason of his career.

Mountcastle went 3-for-4 in Wednesday's 9-1 loss to the Red Sox.

All three of Mountcastle's hits were singles, as were seven of the Orioles' other eight hits. The lack of extra-base power made it difficult for Mountcastle and the Orioles to create much offense against Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi. The 23-year-old Mountcastle is slashing an excellent .330/.385/.514 with five homers, 21 RBI and 11 runs scored in 31 games this year.

Santana went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Wednesday, as the Indians beat the White Sox 3-2.

Still south of the Mendoza Line, Santana has hit two timely home runs in this pivotal series against the White Sox. Regardless, he is still slashing a weak .160/.276/.440 over his past seven games.

Olson is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Olson has started all 54 games at first base this season but will take a seat Wednesday while he is 4-for-31 with 18 strikeouts in his past nine games. Mark Canha shifts to first base while Khris Davis serves as the designated hitter.