MLB Player News

Pasquantino went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a second RBI and a total of two runs scored in Friday's 7-6 win over the Mariners.

Pasquantino had been dealing with lower-back tightness for a while, an issue that cost him a couple of games earlier this week, but he was able to make an impact in his return to the starting nine. Pasquantino's four homers this season have all come over his last 12 games, a span in which he's gone 9-for-42 (.214). That's still slightly better than his season-long batting average of .176, which has come with a .631 OPS, 16 RBI, 13 runs scored, three doubles and two triples over 129 plate appearances.

Murakami went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and two walks in Friday's 8-2 win over the Padres.

Murakami regained the outright lead in homers in the majors with this blast, his 13th of the year. The 26-year-old has gone 6-for-31 (.194) with three long balls and seven RBI over his last eight games, though that stretch followed a five-game homer streak. He's batting .239 with a .967 OPS through 141 plate appearances this season.

Alonso went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run scored in Friday's 7-2 loss to the Yankees.

Alonso scored both of the Orioles' runs, highlighted by a solo blast in the second inning. The 31-year-old slugger is starting to get going, tallying three homers over his past eight games. For the year, he's slashing just .203/.319/.390 with five long balls, 14 RBI, 19 runs scored and a steal across 138 plate appearances.

Rice went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Friday's 7-2 win over the Orioles.

Rice broke the game open, giving the Yankees a 5-1 lead with a three-run blast in the second inning. He's posted four multi-hit efforts over his past eight games, with five going for extra bases in that span. It continued what has been an excellent start for the 27-year-old, who owns a .330/.441/.778 slash line with 11 homers, 26 RBI, 27 runs scored and a steal across 127 plate appearances.

Diaz was removed from Friday's game against the Giants with left side tightness, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

Diaz went 1-for-2 with a solo home run before coming out of Friday's contest in the seventh inning. The Rays are considering him day-to-day, so he doesn't seem to be dealing with anything too serious, but he may still sit out a game or two as a precaution.

Pasquantino (back) is starting at first base and batting third against the Mariners on Friday.

Pasquantino was out of the lineup for each of the Royals' last two games due to lower-back tightness. He was cleared to pinch hit in Thursday's loss to the Athletics, and he has progressed enough in his recovery to return to the lineup for Friday's series opener. Pasquantino is slashing .165/.274/.320 with three home runs and 14 RBI across 124 plate appearances this season.

The Mets optioned Wagaman to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

The 28-year-old was called up from Syracuse on Thursday and will return there a day later with Andy Ibanez joining the active roster. Wagaman didn't see the field during his day in the majors and is now back at Triple-A, where he has a .538 OPS in 74 plate appearances this year.

Aranda is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

It's just the second day off of the season for Aranda, who has four homers in his past eight games but is batting just .207 with a 33.3 percent strikeout rate during that span. Ryan Vilade is picking up a start at first base Friday for Tampa Bay.

Lowe went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and an additional run scored in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Rockies.

The 30-year-old first baseman is on a tear at the plate, going deep five times in his past seven games. With Eugenio Suarez (oblique) sidelined, Lowe is set to serve as the Reds' primary designated hitter in the interim. On the year, Lowe is batting .288 with nine extra-base hits, 12 RBI and seven walks over 52 at-bats.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Thursday that Pasquantino (back) is "better today" and will again be available off the bench against the Athletics, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Pasquantino is missing a second straight start due to low-back tightness, an injury that been nagging at him for a bit. However, he was on deck to pinch hit Wednesday and will be available in the same capacity Thursday. Pasquantino has a good chance of returning to the lineup Friday in Seattle.