MLB Player News

France went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double and five RBI in Friday's 9-7 loss to the Rangers.

France had Jacob deGrom's number, launching a grand slam in the first inning before adding a game-tying solo shot in the fourth. It was an unexpected effort from the 31-year-old, who entered the contest just 5-for-38 in June and without a homer since May 29. On the year, he's slashing .259/.306/.490 with eight long balls, 24 RBI, 17 runs scored and a stolen base across 158 plate appearances.

Grissom isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.

Grissom will get a break Friday after going 1-for-7 with a walk across his first two games back from the injured list. Oswald Peraza will start at the keystone and bat fourth.

Guerrero was removed from Friday's contest versus the Cubs in the sixth inning with an apparent back/side injury, Sportsnet reports.

Vlad Jr. popped out on the first pitch of the top of the sixth inning and immediately grabbed at his back/left side area before jogging slowly to first base. He was removed from the game prior to the bottom of the sixth. The Blue Jays should offer more on Guerrero's condition soon. He was hitless in three plate appearances before departing.

Bauers is not in the lineup for Friday's game in Atlanta.

The left-handed-hitting Bauers doesn't always sit versus lefty hurlers, but he will begin this one on the bench as Atlanta goes with southpaw Martin Perez. Blake Perkins will be in right field and Andrew Vaughn will cover first base in the series opener for the Brewers.

Mead is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest against the Rays.

Mead will begin Friday's series opener on the bench after starting the last three and six of the past seven tilts. Jorbit Vivas is covering third base and batting eighth for the Nationals.

Guerrero went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's win over the Red Sox.

The first baseman launched the first pitch he saw from Sonny Gray over the Green Monster in the first inning, giving the Blue Jays a quick lead in an eventual 4-3 victory. It was Guerrero's first long ball since May 17, snapping a 24-game drought, and just his fourth of the year -- a concerning total for a player who averaged 31.8 homers over the prior five seasons. There's still plenty of time left in the campaign for Guerrero to go on a tear and get his power numbers back to their usual level, and Thursday's blast might have been the first sign a summer surge is on its way.

Schanuel is not in the starting lineup for Thursday night's contest against the Athletics, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Schanuel will ride the pine for the second straight game as the Angels face southpaw Gage Jump on the mound in the series opener. Vaughn Grissom will draw a second start in a row at first base, batting fourth versus the A's.

Naylor (shin/wrist) will start at first base and bat third Thursday against the Orioles.

Naylor missed the Mariners' last two games while dealing with a bruised shin and sore wrist, but both issues appear to have subsided ahead of Thursday's series finale. The 28-year-old has been heating up this month, slashing .250/.308/.500 with three homers, eight RBI and seven runs scored over 12 games since June 1.

Goldschmidt went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run against the White Sox in a 10-5 win Wednesday.

Goldschmidt gave New York a 9-3 lead in the fifth inning with a three-run blast to right field. The long ball was his second in as many days and his third over his past four contests. Goldschmidt is working on a nine-game hitting streak, during which he's slashing .410/.429/.718 with four homers, 13 RBI and four runs. He's been batting leadoff against left-handed starters, giving the Yankees a potent bat at the top of the lineup.

The Diamondbacks released Baker on Monday.

Baker was up for three games with the big club earlier this season but has spent most of the year at Triple-A Reno, where he's slashed just .218/.327/.352 with three home runs in 51 contests. The 29-year-old will now be on the lookout for a new organization.