MLB Player News

Kemp isn't starting Wednesday against the Rangers.

Kemp has started exclusively against right-handed pitchers recently and will get a breather with southpaw Cole Ragans on the mound Wednesday. Chad Pinder will start in left field and bat cleanup.

Sosa isn't starting Wednesday against the Astros.

Sosa has hit just .136 with a solo home run and eight strikeouts over his last six matchups and is out of the lineup for the third time in the last five games. Romy Gonzalez will start at shortstop and bat ninth.

The White Sox recalled Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday. He'll start at shortstop and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Astros.

Gonzalez played in 10 games for the White Sox in 2021 but has spent the majority of the 2022 season in Charlotte. He's hit just .198 with four homers, 15 runs, 10 RBI and five stolen bases over 33 Triple-A games, but that won't stop the White Sox from calling him up after Leury Garcia (back) joined Tim Anderson (hand) on the 10-day injured list. Lenyn Sosa should get the first chance to serve as Chicago's primary shortstop, though Gonzalez will draw the start at the position Wednesday.

Arroyo will pick up his 10th straight start at second base Wednesday in Pittsburgh and will bat seventh, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Boston reinstated Enrique Hernandez and Rob Refsnyder from the injured list Tuesday, but neither player's arrival looks like it'll change Arroyo's standing as Boston's top second baseman for the time being. Refsnyder is expected to serve as a short-side platoon option for the Red Sox, while Hernandez is likely to replace the struggling Jarren Duran as the team's top center fielder. Arroyo has earned a regular spot in the lineup by slashing .333/.371/.485 over his last nine games, but his time as an everyday player could end as soon as Trevor Story (wrist) is activated from the IL. Story joined the Red Sox for the road series in Pittsburgh, a sign that he could soon be ready to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment.

Diaz was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Diaz has shown improvement in the minors over the past two years and progressed to Double-A Midland to begin the 2022 season. He slashed .319/.361/.507 with 15 home runs, 58 RBI and 48 runs over 94 games in Midland to begin the year and is riding an eight-game hitting streak that includes five multi-hit performances. The 22-year-old has lackluster defensive abilities but will test his power and contact skills against Triple-A competition.

Espinal will start at second base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

Espinal has now made four starts in the middle infield in the Blue Jays' last five games, with the last two coming at second base against right-handed starting pitchers while Whit Merrifield has remained out of the lineup on both occasions. The Blue Jays didn't deal for Merrifield at the trade deadline to let him collect dust on the bench, but the 33-year-old looks as though he could be limited to more of a part-time utility role until he finds more success at the plate. Since being acquired Aug. 2, Merrifield has produced a .523 OPS, while Espinal owns a .747 mark during that same two-week stretch.

Merrifield isn't starting Wednesday against the Orioles.

Merrifield went 2-for-8 with a strikeout over his last two games but will retreat to the bench for the third time in the last five matchups. Santiago Espinal is starting at the keystone and batting eighth.

Haggerty will start in left field and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Angels.

The recent returns of Julio Rodriguez, Mitch Haniger and Dylan Moore from the injured list were expected to cost Haggerty playing time, but the 28-year-old has performed too well for the Mariners to remove him from an everyday role. Haggerty, who will be making his fifth consecutive start in the corner outfield Wednesday, is slashing a sublime .339/.377/.554 with two home runs, three stolen bases, 10 RBI and nine runs in 22 games since the All-Star break.

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

Maikel Garcia will crack the lineup at shortstop while Lopez rests for the day game after a night game. Lopez's day off comes after he went 4-for-10 with a run scored while starting in each of the Royals' past three contests.

Polanco (knee) isn't starting Wednesday against the Royals.

Polanco sustained a knee injury on a slide Monday and will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. It's not yet clear whether he's available off the bench Wednesday, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him sit out since the Twins have a scheduled day off Thursday. Luis Arraez is shifting to the keystone while Jose Miranda starts at first base.