MLB Player News

Casas went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss against Toronto.

The fourth-inning blast was the lone run in an otherwise dismal performance for the slumping Red Sox. Following a rough first half, Casas has turned it on since the All-Star break, hitting eight home runs and batting .355 over 20 games.

Torkelson went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's loss to the Rays.

Torkelson ended an 0-for-13 skid at the plate with a double to lead off the fourth inning. The 23-year-old has cooled off considerably since returning from the All-Star break and is hitting .204/.306/.315 with one home run, seven RBI, five runs and an 8:15 BB:K in his last 15 games. Despite hitting only one home run since July 23, Torkelson still leads the team with 15.

Olson went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, an additional RBI and a walk in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Cubs.

Olson has maintained an impressive power surge lately, going 12-for-31 (.387) with seven homers and 17 RBI over his last nine games. He gave Atlanta a pair of leads in this game, but the Cubs continued to push back and went ahead for good in the fifth inning. The first baseman is up to 39 long balls this season, tying his career high and putting him one back of Shohei Ohtani for the major-league lead. Olson has added a .264/.370/.605 slash line with 97 RBI, 84 runs scored, one stolen base and 20 doubles through 109 contests.

Diaz went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double and three runs scored in Sunday's win over the Tigers.

Diaz led off the game with a double and then sent a screamer to left center in the second to put the Rays up 5-0. Diaz now has two home runs in August but has hit just four since May 26. In his age-31 season, Diaz is on pace to set career highs in home runs, RBI and runs scored. He's cemented himself as one of the elite leadoff men in baseball this season and is now slashing .315/.398/.508 with 16 homers, 55 RBI, 67 runs and a .906 OPS.

Lowe went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 6-0 win over the Marlins.

While Lowe has generally hit well in recent weeks, this was his first homer since July 26. The first baseman's blast extended the Rangers' lead to 3-0 in the third inning and was one of four homers for the team in the contest. Lowe is at a .284/.378/.453 slash line with 13 long balls, 62 RBI, 71 runs scored, 30 doubles and two triples through 111 contests, though he has not attempted a stolen base.

Cron is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Mariners.

Cron started all six games at first base since being acquired by the Halos last weekend, and he'll receive a day off after going 5-for-23 with three walks, three RBI and four runs during that span. Mike Moustakas will move over to first base while Eduardo Escobar receives a start at the hot corner.

France is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

France started the past 26 games and will take a seat Sunday after he posted a .573 OPS during that stretch. Mike Ford will start at first base and bat seventh in his place for the series finale in Anaheim.

Rivas will start at first base and bat third in Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Rivas will receive his fourth consecutive start after going 3-for-11 with a home run, a triple, two walks, three RBI and an additional run in his first three contests with the Pirates. He looks set to occupy the strong side of a platoon at first base with Connor Joe now that Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi are playing elsewhere in the aftermath of Tuesday's trade deadline.

Noda (jaw), who's been swinging a bat since late July, is slated to take live batting practice against Mason Miller (elbow) on Tuesday, the team's official site reports.

It's another key step for Noda as he works to return from the fractured jaw he suffered during pregame warmups July 19. Assuming all goes well with the live BP, the Athletics will map out a more definitive plan and timetable for the remainder of Noda's recovery later in the week. For the moment, the rookie remains within the approximate three-week return timetable he was given when first injured.

Steer is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

Steer will hit the bench for the series finale after he started in each of the last nine games while going 8-for-36 (.222 average) with three home runs and seven RBI. He'll give way to Stuart Fairchild in left field Sunday.