MLB Player News

Loftin went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Guardians.

Loftin has gone just 4-for-41 (.098) with a 5:10 BB:K over his last 14 contests. The versatile infielder got the start at third base for the second game in a row after CJ Alexander was at the hot corner for the two previous contests. The Royals are limiting Michael Massey to designated hitter to ease him in after another back injury, but once he's able to play the field, Loftin's usage is like to decrease. Loftin is slashing just .223/.322/.282 with one home run, one steal, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored over 122 plate appearances.

Manager Aaron Boone said there's a "good chance" Torres returns to the lineup Friday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Torres has been out of the lineup Wednesday and Thursday after slumping both at the plate and with the glove of late. Boone did not commit to any specific plan, so it will be important to check the official lineup before Friday's 7:07 pm ET first pitch.

Drury (illness) isn't in the Angels' lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Drury will be missing his seventh consecutive game as he continues to fight off an upper-respiratory virus. There hasn't been any sort of indication from the Angels that they will place him on the injured list, so the 31-year-old should still be considered day-to-day. Luis Rengifo will start at second base Thursday with Miguel Sano at third.

Torres is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Toronto.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone had intimated after not starting Torres on Wednesday that the second baseman might get an additional day off to regroup, and the skipper has done just that. Torres is in a 2-for-29 slump at the plate and has also had some defensive lapses. Jahmai Jones is getting a rare start at the keystone Thursday.

Horwitz isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup for Thursday's game versus the Yankees.

With left-hander Carlos Rodon on the mound for New York, the lefty-hitting Horwitz will begin Thursday's contest on the bench. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will shift to second base as a result, allowing Ernie Clement to start at third while batting ninth.

Lopez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta.

Southpaw Chris Sale is on the hill for Atlanta, so the lefty-hitting Lopez will retreat to the bench. Platoon mate Danny Mendick will spell Lopez at second base.

Altuve went 2-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Rockies.

The veteran second baseman pilfered multiple bags in a game for the first time since May 2 while racking up multiple hits for the 11th time in June. Altuve has been on fire this month, batting .333 (30-for-90) in 22 contests with three homers, five steals, 15 runs and 15 RBI.

Torres is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Mets.

For the second game in a row, Torres was held hitless Tuesday in the Yankees' 9-7 loss, leaving him in a 2-for-29 slump at the dish over his last nine games. To make matters worse, Torres committed an error at second base and also didn't run out a grounder at full speed in the eighth inning, with the latter play not escaping manager Aaron Boone's attention, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Boone indicated that Torres is doing OK physically, but the skipper thought a day on the bench could be beneficial for the 27-year-old while he's in the midst of a rough patch. Oswaldo Cabrera will pick up the start at second base in place of Torres.

Gelof is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Gelof will miss out on a start for the first time since June 16, when he was on the bench for the front end of a doubleheader with the Twins. While Gelof receives a breather, Armando Alvarez will be rewarded with a second straight start in the Oakland infield after banging out three hits in his first MLB start in Tuesday's 7-5 loss.

Drury (illness) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

Drury hasn't played in more than a week due to an upper-respiratory virus. The Angels have resisted placing him on the 10-day injured list thus far, and the team hasn't provided an indication that it has changed its stance, so consider Drury day-to-day. Luis Rengifo will cover second base Wednesday in Drury's stead.