MLB Player News

Massey went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-5 win over the Phillies.

Massey's long ball sparked a sixth-inning rally for the Royals. The second baseman is hitting .213 over 18 games since the All-Star break, but he's swatted five homers and three doubles among 13 hits in that span. For the season, he's at a .218/.276/.364 slash line with nine homers, five steals, 33 RBI and 23 runs scored through 83 contests. He hit third Friday, just the third time all year he's been in the top third of the order.

Ibanez was a late addition to Saturday's lineup against the Rays, batting sixth and manning second base.

Javier Baez (undisclosed) was scratched, so Ibanez enters at second base and Zack Short slides to shortstop. This will be Ibanez's second start against a righty since July 24.

Lowe is not in Saturday's lineup against the Tigers.

Lowe is hitting .316 with four home runs and one steal in his last 10 games. Isaac Paredes starts at second base while Curtis Mead starts at the hot corner.

Schneider went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-3 win over the Red Sox.

Called up from Triple-A Buffalo earlier in the day, Schneider got the start at second base and hit seventh in his debut and wasted no time making an impact, driving the third pitch he saw in the big leagues -- an 83.8 mph cutter from James Paxton -- deep over the Green Monster in the second inning. Schneider's numbers at Buffalo were impressive, and if he keeps hitting he could work his way into a short-side platoon role for the Jays, taking over at the keystone while Whit Merrifield spells one of the team's lefty-swinging outfielders. Santiago Espinal can also handle that role, but his .599 OPS on the season doesn't present a tough hurdle for Schneider to clear.

Merrifield went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-3 win over the Red Sox.

The Blue Jays hit five homers on the night, and Merrifield got things started by driving the first pitch he saw from James Paxton down the left-field line and into the seats atop the Green Monster. The 34-year-old has 10 homers on the season but five of them have come since the All-Star break, and Merrifield is slashing a scorching .354/.361/.570 during that stretch with two steals, 13 RBI and 14 runs in 20 games.

Ibanez is not in Saturday's lineup against the Rays.

Ibanez is a part-time player for the Tigers, with three of his last four starts coming against left-handed pitchers. He heads to the bench with Aaron Civale on the mound for the Rays. Matt Vierling shifts to third base, allowing Miguel Cabrera to start at designated hitter while Kerry Carpenter mans right field.

Westburg went 2-for-3 with two walks, a three-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 10-3 win over the Mets.

Getting the start at second base and batting fifth, the rookie took Reed Garrett deep in the seventh inning to help put the game out of reach. Westburg hasn't yet been able to carve out an everyday spot in a loaded O's lineup, but the 24-year-old is doing his part at the plate to demonstrate he deserves one, batting .324 (12-for-37) over his last 13 games with his first two career home runs and stolen bases.

Drury (shoulder) went 1-for-4 in Friday's 9-7 loss to the Mariners.

Drury played the full game at second base after missing over a month with a shoulder injury. It was unclear what kind of playing time he would see upon his return, but with Zach Neto (back) going on the injured list, Drury has a chance to take over second base with Luis Rengifo moving to shortstop. Drury has had a productive season, slashing .276/.322/.497 with 14 home runs, 45 RBI, 36 runs scored, 17 doubles and two triples over 76 contests.

Rengifo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Friday's 9-7 loss to the Mariners.

Rengifo logged his seventh multi-hit effort in his last 13 games, a span in which he's batting .315 (17-for-54) with nine extra-base hits. It looked like his path to everyday playing time would close with Brandon Drury (shoulder) returning from the injured list Friday, but Zach Neto (back) was placed on the IL as the corresponding move. With Neto sidelined, Rengifo will likely take over the starting shortstop job in the interim and retain the leadoff gig. Rengifo is slashing just .230/.318/.397 on the year with 11 homers, 34 RBI, 42 runs scored and five stolen bases through 96 contests, but he's been hot enough lately to warrant a look outside of AL-only formats.

Caballero went 1-for-2 with a stolen base in Friday's 9-7 win over the Angels.

Caballero's at-bats remain limited, but he's gone 3-for-13 (.231) with four steals over his last eight games. The second baseman had a window to gain playing time after Kolten Wong was designated for assignment, but it's been Josh Rojas and Dylan Moore who have instead picked up most of the extra work at the keystone. Caballero is slashing .227/.352/.326 with 19 steals, three home runs, 21 RBI and 27 runs scored over 210 plate appearances.