MLB Player News

Merrifield is not in the lineup Thursday in Tampa Bay, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It's a rare day off for Merrifield, who had started 17 of the previous 18 contests. Cavan Biggio will cover second base.

Torres went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Orioles.

Both homers came off Baltimore starter Tyler Wells, helping give the Yankees a 5-1 lead that evaporated in the top of the seventh. Torres has three long balls in the last three games, giving him nine on the season, and through 22 contests in May he's slashing a strong .284/.343/.511.

Frazier went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 9-6 win over the Yankees.

With the Orioles down 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Frazier got the comeback started by clanking a Nestor Cortes fastball off the right-field foul pole. It's Frazier's sixth homer of the season and third in the last nine games, a stretch in which he's batting .353 (12-for-34) with seven runs and nine RBI.

Brujan was optioned to Triple-A Durham by the Rays on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan's latest stint in the majors lasted just one day. The Rays are sending him down in order to bring up a fresh relief arm.

Gonzalez went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Guardians.

Gonzalez has started each of the White Sox's last four games with Hanser Alberto (shoulder) sidelined and Elvis Andrus (oblique) on the injured list. He's collected five hits across 15 at-bats in that span, tallying six RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. For the season, Gonzalez is still hitting just .200, and he's almost certain to lose playing time when either Alberto or Andrus return.

Short went 1-for-1 with a walk, a three-run home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Royals.

Short pinch hit for Akil Baddoo in the sixth inning when Kansas City turned to lefty Josh Taylor. Short made the decision pay off, as he launched his second home run of the season with two runners on to put the Tigers up 4-1. The utility infielder is now batting .280 with a .939 OPS through 16 games, but he's unlikely to be a regular fantasy contributor unless he starts to see more playing time.

Valdez is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Valdez sits against most lefties and will do so in this one versus southpaw Tyler Anderson. Pablo Reyes will cover second base.

Caballero is starting at second base and batting seventh Wednesday versus the Athletics.

Caballero got the day off Tuesday after homering Sunday and Monday. The 26-year-old was on a tear at Triple-A Tacoma prior to his April 19 promotion and owns a strong .802 OPS through his first 70 major-league plate appearances.

Julien went 1-for-3 with one walk, a solo home run, an additional RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 7-1 win over San Francisco.

With Joey Gallo resting during the series finale, Julien moved into the leadoff spot Wednesday, and in his first at-bat, he blasted a solo home run off Anthony DeSclafani. It was Julien's second hit since being called up from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, and his first big-league homer since April 19. The 24-year-old extended Minnesota's lead to 3-1 with a sacrifice fly in the second and came around to score in the fourth after drawing a one-out walk. Julien is in line for regular starts as long as Jorge Polanco (hamstring) remains on the injured list.

Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

After returning from the 10-day injured list Monday and going 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk and a run scored, Lopez has been left on the bench for two straight contests. Both of those absences have come against left-handed pitching, however, so the lefty-hitting Lopez could still be on track to fill a strong-side platoon role now that he's healthy again.