MLB Player News

Polanco (hamstring), reinstated from the injured list earlier in the day, went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in a loss to the Rays on Monday.

Polanco finished up his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma by belting three home runs and compiling six RBI over his final two games, but that prodigious bat was nowhere to be found in his return to the big leagues Monday. The veteran disappointingly reverted to the struggles that have defined most of his season, and following Monday's trio of punchouts, Polanco now sports a career-worst 31.9 percent strikeout rate.

Massey will be available only as a designated hitter for the time being as he returns from a back injury, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Massey was activated from the 10-day injured list Monday after missing time with a low-back ligament sprain, which was the second time this season he's missed time with a back issue. While the 26-year-old is feeling good physically, he needs some time before he's ready to play second base again. The Royals shifted Maikel Garcia over to second base and started CJ Alexander at third base Monday. Nick Loftin should also see plenty of reps at second base on days Garcia plays third, a position more familiar to him.

Drury (illness) went through a workout before Monday's game against the Athletics and will be available off the bench, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Drury has been held out of the lineup since Saturday due to an upper respiratory virus, but he's close to returning to the starting lineup. Michael Stefanic draws the start at second base Monday with Drury available off the bench.

Loftin is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.

Loftin had started in each of the Royals' last six games and served as the club's leadoff hitter in two of those contests, but playing time may be harder to come by for him after Kansas City brought back Michael Massey (back) from the injured list Monday. Massey is serving as the Royals' designated hitter Monday, but he should soon resume regular duties at second base, where Loftin had been seeing most of his playing time over the past month.

Lopez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers.

Lopez and fellow left-handed hitters Gavin Sheets and Andrew Benintendi will hit the bench as the White Sox go with an all-right-handed-hitting lineup versus Dodgers southpaw James Paxton. Danny Mendick will replace Lopez at second base and bat ninth.

Grissom has been cleared for a running program and is making progress in his recovery from a right hamstring strain, but the Red Sox haven't yet cleared him to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Though Grissom seems to be trending in a positive direction as he works his way back from the hamstring strain that sent him to the injured list June 2, he looks to be at least a week away from seeing game action in the minors. Once he's ready to return from the IL, Grissom may not have a regular role waiting for him with the big club, as Enmanuel Valdez has found success as a strong-side platoon player at second base following his call-up from Triple-A Worcester on May 29. Rather than having Grissom displace Valdez as the team's starter or have him occupy the short side of a platoon, the Red Sox may prefer to option Grissom to Worcester upon activating him so that he can receive regular reps.

The Royals placed Frazier on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right thumb strain.

Frazier suffered the injury during Saturday's 6-0 loss to the Rangers during a collision in the field with teammate Garrett Hampson. It's not clear how long he'll be out, but the issue was deemed significant enough to keep Frazier on the shelf until at least early July.

The Royals activated Massey (back) from the 10-day injured list Monday. He'll serve as the Royals' designated hitter and No. 5 batter in Monday's game against the Marlins.

Massey has been limited to just 29 games this season because of a pair of back-related absences. He responded well to a recent pain-killing injection, however, and is ready to rejoin the Royals after completing a five-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha this past week. There's certainly risk in another aggravation of the back issue, but Massey is worth picking up in fantasy leagues where available given how well he had been hitting before getting hurt (.835 OPS in 110 plate appearances with Kansas City).

Valdez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Since he was recalled from Triple-A Worcester on May 29, Valdez has operated in the strong side of a platoon at second base while slashing .308/.390/.654 with four home runs and one stolen base over a stretch of 20 games. Though his performance doesn't warrant a downturn in playing time, Valdez could nonetheless find himself as the odd man out of the lineup against right-handed pitching as a consequence of the Red Sox regaining health in the outfield. The recent returns of Tyler O'Neill and Wilyer Abreu from injuries will push Ceddanne Rafaela from center field to shortstop and David Hamilton from shortstop to second base Monday, leaving no room for the lefty-hitting Valdez even though Toronto will bring a righty (Chris Bassitt) to the hill.

Lowe (toe) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.

Lowe suffered a fractured right pinky toe when he was hit by a pitch in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Pirates. While the plan is for him to attempt to play through the injury, Lowe has now missed two straight starts. Richie Palacios will again handle second base while Lowe stays off his feet.