MLB Player News

Rengifo will start at second base and bat leadoff in Sunday's game in Toronto, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

With Zach Neto having now sat out seven times in the Angels' last eight games due to back issues, Rengifo has received a temporary look as the Angels' table setter. Since Neto first exited the lineup July 22, Rengifo has reached base in each of the last seven contests while slashing .333/.375/.733 with six extra-base knocks.

Massey went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 10-7 win over the Twins.

He took Bailey Ober deep in the second inning to help the Royals leap out to an early 6-0 lead. Massey has gone yard four times in his last seven games to double his homer total on the season, and over that stretch he's batting .321 (9-for-28) with seven RBI. The 25-year-old's .220/.272/.358 slash line on the year remains poor, but it won't take much of a hot streak for him to lock down the starting job at the keystone for Kansas City -- the team ranks 25th this year in offensive WAR from the position at 0.3.

Altuve went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Saturday against the Rays.

Altuve tallied his first home run since returning from the injured list July 26. Though it came off catcher Rene Pinto, Altuve now has hits in back-to-back games after going hitless in the first contest he was activated. He's returned to his customary spot atop the Astros' order and is likely to remain there for the rest of the season, assuming he stays healthy.

Diaz isn't in the Athletics' lineup Saturday against Colorado.

After a 2-for-5 performance Friday in which he drove in an RBI, Diaz will take a seat to begin Saturday's contest. In his place, Jace Peterson will start at the hot corner and bat seventh.

Lopez went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 8-5 extra-inning win over the Twins.

The steal was Lopez's first since May 29. He's got decent speed, though he's had trouble getting on base lately, as he's hitting just .143 over 10 contests since the All-Star break. Lopez lacks an everyday place in the lineup, instead serving as depth in the infield and left field. He has a poor .210/.322/.280 slash line with four steals, 13 RBI, 18 runs scored, five doubles and three triples through 67 contests, and he's yet to hit a home run this season.

Drury (shoulder) said Saturday that he will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake this week and hopes to return Thursday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Drury has been on the injured list since July 2 with inflammation in his left shoulder and appears to finally be nearing the end of his rehab process. The 30-year-old infielder is slashing .277/.322/.500 with 14 homers and 45 RBI on the season and figures to resume everyday duties once he returns from his assignment.

Ibanez isn't in the Tigers' lineup Saturday against the Marlins.

Ibanez is 4-for-17 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored across his last five games and will get a day off Saturday. Nick Maton will take over at second base and bat seventh while Ibanez rests.

Merrifield went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 4-1 win over the Angels.

After swiping a bag in the sixth inning he took Jose Soriano deep in the seventh, giving Merrifield eight homers and 21 steals on the season to go with his .305/.354/.425 slash line. The 34-year-old moved up to the leadoff spot Friday, with George Springer shifting down to the five hole, and Merrifield could get a long look at the top of the order given his initial success.

Caballero went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

Caballero was in the lineup for the first time in a week, and he has picked up just one at-bat during that stretch of riding pine. The second baseman has again lost out on playing time to Kolten Wong, and it appears Dylan Moore has also passed Caballero on the depth chart. Nonetheless, Caballero offers some speed -- he has six steals over 14 contests in July, and he's up to 17 thefts on the year. He's added a middling .224/.351/.327 slash line over 202 plate appearances.

Lowe went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Friday's 4-3 victory over the Astros.

Lowe is beginning to tap into his power again after he endured a power outage in his first couple weeks back from the injured list. He has two homers in his last three games, bringing him up to 12 on the season. The second baseman stole a base after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning, his fifth steal this season, which sets him up to potentially establish a new career high (his best is seven) in the category before season's end.