MLB Player News

Altuve (oblique) is expected to return to the Astros' lineup Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Altuve is missing a third straight game Monday with oblique tightness and isn't expected to play Tuesday, either. However, manager Dusty Baker said the second baseman is feeling much better and should be ready to go Wednesday. Altuve originally hurt his oblique on a swing last Friday.

Altuve (oblique) will remain out of the lineup Monday versus the Blue Jays.

Altuve will miss a third consecutive game as he continues to deal with oblique tightness. The team said his absence was precautionary Sunday, which could remain the case again one day later. It's unclear when he will be able to return to the lineup. Mauricio Dubon will draw another start at second base and bat leadoff in the series opener with Toronto.

Biggio is starting in right field and batting eighth Monday versus the Astros, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

Normal right fielder George Springer will serve as the designated hitter. Biggio has finally started to pick it up at the plate over the last couple weeks, reaching base 12 times in his last 29 plate appearances.

Short is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.

Now on the bench for the third time in four games, Short's temporary run as the Tigers' preferred option at second base appears to have come to an end. Andy Ibanez has occupied the keystone in each of the three games that Short has sat out, and Ibanez looks as though he may see the bulk of the starts at the position while Zack McKinstry is seeing most of his opportunities in right field these days to aid a banged-up Detroit outfield.

Torres went 0-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in 4-1 win against the Dodgers on Sunday.

Though Torres went hitless for the second straight contest, he at least provided something of value to his fantasy managers with a third-inning stolen base. It was his sixth theft of the campaign but his first in nearly two months. Torres began the season with five steals over his first six games but then went 53 games without a theft, getting thrown out four times over that stretch.

The Rays recalled Brujan from Triple-A Durham prior to Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Brujan will return to the Rays after he was sent down May 25, replacing Brandon Lowe (back), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday. Over 21 plate appearances with the big club this season, Brujan has produced a .250 average with three RBI and five runs. He'll likely serve as a utility man while he's up with Tampa Bay and may see sporadic playing time.

The Rays placed Lowe on the 10-day injured list Monday with low back inflammation.

After sitting out Sunday's 6-2 win over the Red Sox due to the back problem, Lowe will now be shelved for at least nine more days while he recovers from the injury. The diagnosis of low back inflammation doesn't seem overly serious, so Lowe could be in store for a minimum-length stay on the IL, or close to it. Tampa Bay called up utility man Vidal Brujan from Triple-A Durham on Monday to provide additional depth in the infield, but Lowe's absence is expected to open up steady playing time for both Taylor Walls and Isaac Paredes.

Valdez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays.

The lefty-hitting rookie will retreat to the bench for the series finale while the Rays bring a tough southpaw in Shane McClanahan to the hill. Christian Arroyo (hamstring), who was reinstated from the injured list earlier Monday, will step in for Valdez as the Red Sox's starting second baseman for this one.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Hernandez will play center field versus left-handed pitching, with his role against righties to be determined, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports. Hernandez will start in center field and bat sixth in Monday's series finale with the Rays.

Hernandez has 13 throwing errors from shortstop this season and recently seems to have developed the yips. As a result, he could be pushed off the position for the foreseeable future, and he might not see much playing time at another spot versus right-handed pitching for a while. Pablo Reyes is starting at shortstop Monday, and the Red Sox also have Christian Arroyo and at some point Yu Chang (wrist) as options at short. Eventually, the spot will belong to Trevor Story (elbow), who could return from the 60-day injured list later this summer.

Rengifo went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Astros.

Rengifo took J.P. France deep to right center in the sixth to knot the game up at one apiece. It was the 26-year-old's first home run since May 4 and just his third of the year. Rengifo surprised everyone last season by clubbing 17 homers in 127 games, which was good for fourth on the team, but that power has not translated over to this season. He continues to own a low strikeout rate (18.8 percent) and is taking more walks this season (10.8 percent in comparison to just 3.4 percent last year) but is slashing just .221/.313/.314 with 17 RBI, 21 runs and a 17:30 BB:K over 160 plate appearances.