MLB Player News

Kurtz, who is out of the lineup Sunday against the Tigers, is scheduled to visit a hand specialist Monday in Los Angeles, after which the Athletics are expected to decide whether he'll need to go on the injured list, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

After being hit by a pitch Wednesday, the 23-year-old was back in the lineup for the next two games but now finds himself on the bench Sunday for a second straight contest. Kurtz underwent an MRI and X-rays before initially rejoining the starting nine Thursday, with manager Mark Kotsay saying that the X-ray results were "kind of unclear." The fact Kurtz was cleared to play indicated it was a minor injury, but he apparently has some lingering issues that warrant further evaluation.

Goldschmidt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

The Yankees will give the 38-year-old a breather for the matinee contest after he started 10 straight games while going 7-for-40 (.175) with one home run, two RBI and three runs. Ben Rice will draw the start at first base Sunday, while Amed Rosario slots into the designated hitter spot.

Kurtz (forearm) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

It's the second consecutive absence for Kurtz, whose forearm is presumably still bothering him after being hit by a pitch Wednesday. The 23-year-old underwent X-rays and an MRI before returning to the lineup Thursday and Friday, but he's apparently still not 100 percent. Monday's team off day will provide him three straight days of rest heading into Tuesday's series opener in Cincinnati.

The Nationals scratched Garcia from the lineup for Sunday's game in Atlanta.

Garcia exited Friday's 6-2 loss due to a sore right knee before returning to the starting nine Saturday and going 1-for-4 with a double in a 8-3 loss. Per Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic, the Nationals haven't indicated that Garcia has dealt with any setback with his knee, and the 26-year-old will be available off the bench Sunday. With that in mind, Garcia is presumably just being held out of the starting nine as a precaution since his name has popped up in trade rumors as Monday's deadline approaches. Andres Chaparro will pick up the start at first base Sunday and will bat ninth.

The Pirates reinstated Horwitz (concussion/hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll start at first base and bat fifth for the series finale in Cincinnati.

Horwitz had been on the shelf since June 25 after suffering a left hamstring strain, but he was expected to return from the IL earlier in the week after completing a three-game rehab assignment. However, he sustained a mild concussion in his final minor-league contest July 25, prompting the Pirates to delay his activation until he was no longer exhibiting any symptoms. Now fully cleared, Horwitz should settle back in as the everyday first baseman after slashing .280/.386/.455 with 10 home runs, 36 runs and 33 RBI in 74 games prior to landing on the IL.

Hoskins went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and two RBI in Saturday's 12-8 loss to Arizona.

Hoskins gave the Guardians an early lead by taking Kohl Drake deep in the first inning. That snapped a 1-for-15 stretch for the first baseman, who was later replaced by Kyle Manzardo when a right-handed reliever entered the game. The Hoskins/Manzardo combination at first base ranks last in the majors with a combined .203 batting average. Cleveland, which is in the thick of the postseason chase, will be looking to upgrade its offense heading into the trade deadline, and first base is an obvious place to start.

Bauers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Angels.

The blast was Bauers' 20th of the campaign, and this is the first season he's reached that mark. He has gone 11-for-25 (.440) with two homers and five RBI over his last seven games. Through 100 contests on the year, he's batting .269 with an .878 OPS, 64 RBI, 66 runs scored, 16 doubles, two triples and eight stolen bases. Bauers is currently playing through a fractured big toe on his right foot, but it doesn't appear that the injury will cost him much playing time.

Rumfield went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI in a 12-6 victory against Kansas City on Saturday.

All three of Rumfield's knocks were singles, but they came at opportune times, as each of the three hits drove in a run. The contact-hitting first baseman logged his ninth game of three or more hits this season and improved his batting average to .297, which ranks seventh best among qualified NL hitters. Rumfield has added 13 homers, 22 doubles, two triples, 48 runs and 57 RBI in what has been a strong rookie campaign.

Freeman went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Red Sox.

Freeman has logged three hits in five of the 11 games during his active hitting streak, a stretch in which he's batting .511 (23-for-45). The first baseman had produced only four three-hit performances prior to the end of June. His recent surge at the plate has him batting .310 with an .875 OPS, 15 home runs, 54 RBI, 57 runs scored and five stolen bases over 108 games.

Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said after Saturday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers that Contreras (head) is on track to return to the lineup for Sunday's series finale, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Contreras was struck in the head by a pitch during Friday's series opener. He was removed from that game and was held out of Saturday's lineup as a precaution, but since he's not exhibiting any symptoms of a concussion, Contreras looks poised to start at first base Sunday. Nick Sogard filled in for Contreras on Saturday and went 0-for-2 with a walk.