MLB Player News

Polanco (knee) is starting at second base and batting sixth Friday against the Rangers.

The 29-year-old sat out the last two games after suffering the knee injury Monday in Kansas City, but he's apparently good to go after Minnesota's scheduled day off Thursday. Polanco has struggled in 20 games since the All-Star break with a .200/.307/.293 slash line.

Kemp isn't starting Friday against the Mariners.

Kemp went 0-for-3 with a walk during Thursday's loss to the Rangers and will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games with left-hander Marco Gonzales on the mound for the Mariners. Chad Pinder is starting in left field and batting cleanup.

Espinal is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees.

Espinal started the past three games and will take a seat after going 5-for-10 with a double, a walk, three RBI and a run scored. The 27-year-old has remained the preferred option at second base despite the acquisition of Whit Merrifield at the trade deadline, though Merrifield has spent a lot of time in center field in place of George Springer (knee). Cavan Biggio is starting at the keystone and batting eighth.

Rengifo (back) is starting Friday against the Tigers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Rengifo exited Wednesday's series finale against the Mariners due to lower-back tightness, but he'll start at the keystone and bat third Friday. The 25-year-old has been productive at the plate recently, hitting .282 with four home runs, three doubles, 10 RBI and six runs over the last nine games.

Sosa was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Sosa lost out on consistent playing time recently and will head to the minors after hitting just .114 with a home run, a double, three runs and an RBI over 11 games in the majors. Elvis Andrus was signed by the White Sox on Friday and should serve as the primary shortstop while Tim Anderson (hand) and Leury Garcia (back) are on the injured list.

Castro (thumb) isn't starting Friday against the Angels.

Castro exited Wednesday's game against Cleveland due to left thumb soreness, and he'll be out of the lineup following the Tigers' scheduled day off Thursday. Jonathan Schoop will shift to first base while Willi Castro starts at the keystone.

Arauz (finger) will begin a rehab assignment at High-A Aberdeen on Friday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Arauz took part in infield work Thursday and will be cleared for game action in the minors a day later. It's not yet clear how many rehab games he'll require, but he'll likely be in the mix to rejoin the Orioles sometime next week.

Mathias started at designated hitter and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Thursday's 10-3 win over the Athletics.

Mathias, who was acquired from the Brewers at the trade deadline, was called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, a transaction that got lost amidst the organizational chaos of the past week, which featured the sacking of a manager and general manager. He appeared as a pinch hitter Wednesday, doubling in his lone plate appearance, then made his first start for the Rangers on Thursday. It's unclear how he'll be used going forward, as the Rangers tend to rotate several players through the DH spot. He could serve as a right-handed complement to Brad Miller at DH or get used as a utility player capable of playing second base, third base and left field.

Massey went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Rays.

The Royals couldn't get much going offensively in the contest, but Massey provided a highlight when he swatted a solo shot to right field in the eighth inning for his first big-league homer. The 24-year-old has shown some pop in the minors this season -- he's hit 16 long balls over 87 games between Double-A and Triple-A -- and he entered the contest with five extra-base hits (four doubles and one triple) over his initial 16 major-league base knocks. Massey has already shown signs of being a good big-league hitter, slashing .321/.356/.482 over his first 17 contests.

Hernandez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game at Pittsburgh, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Hernandez was activated off the injured list Tuesday after missing two months with a hip flexor injury, and he'll receive Thursday off after starting the past two days. Jarren Duran will take over in center field for the Red Sox.