MLB Player News

Lopez will start at second base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Lopez will pick up a fourth straight start and his second in a row at the keystone in the penultimate game of the series versus Seattle. With Josh Jung (calf) recently joining Corey Seager (back) on the injured list, Lopez should at least temporarily have a path to an everyday role in the Texas infield. Since signing with the Rangers in late May, Lopez is batting .326 over 135 at-bats but has provided limited production in most other categories (one home run, four stolen bases, 16 RBI and 15 runs).

Massey is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

After starting the Royals' previous six games, the left-handed hitter will retreat to the bench Sunday while southpaw Framber Valdez toes the rubber for the Tigers. Andrew Velazquez will check in for Massey at second base and bat ninth, with Tyler Tolbert manning shortstop.

Seigler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Romy Gonzalez will draw the start at second base in place of Seigler, but both could be headed for bench roles after the Red Sox acquired Curtis Mead from the Nationals earlier Sunday. Though Mead had primarily been used at third base and first base with Washington, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said that the infielder will see most of his initial opportunities at the keystone. With a .774 OPS in 29 games with the big club this season, Seigler has performed well enough to maintain at least a semi-regular role, so it's possible that he and/or Mead end up cutting into Masataka Yoshida's playing time at designated hitter.

McKinstry is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

The utility man started the previous four games at three different positions but will hit the bench Sunday after going 5-for-14 with a double and an RBI during that span. Kerry Carpenter is manning right field while Gleyber Torres serves as the designated hitter in the series finale versus Kansas City.

Williamson will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Williamson will stick in the starting nine for a fourth straight game while Taylor Walls (fingers) is on the bench for another contest. If Walls' hyperextended fingers don't force him to the injured list, he will eventually settle back in as the Rays' everyday shortstop and push Williamson back into the short side of a platoon at second base with Richie Palacios.

Mayer (forearm) has progressed from dry swings to hitting off a tee, MLB.com reports.

Mayer has been sidelined since late June and is still without a firm timeline to return. He'll need to advance to facing live pitching and a rehab assignment before rejoining Boston's active roster.

Smith started at third base and went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Mariners.

Smith was called up after Texas placed third baseman Josh Jung (calf) on the 10-day injured list Saturday. With both Jung and shortstop Corey Seager (back) on the shelf, there could be opportunities for the versatile Smith, who can also play the outfield. He shifted to left field Saturday when Wyatt Langford (ankle) was removed from the game.

Clement went 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-0 win over the Red Sox.

Clement was a tough out all game, highlighted by an RBI double in the third inning. The 30-year-old has posted four multi-hit efforts in nine contests to open the second half, though this was just his first RBI during that stretch. For the year, he's slashing .298/.323/.425 with eight homers, 33 RBI, 46 runs scored and four steals across 412 plate appearances.

Lee went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Royals.

The 23-year-old infielder brought home Riley Greene in the second inning with a two-bagger before lofting a solo shot off Michael Wacha in the fourth, but the Tigers' offense went cold the rest of the way. Lee has started five of the last seven games while bouncing between second base and third base, and Saturday's performance extended his current hitting streak to 10 games -- a stretch in which he's batting .382 (13-for-34) with three doubles, two homers, five runs and eight RBI.

The Rangers recalled Smith from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Since being optioned to Triple-A on July 9, Smith has gone 7-for-34 (.206) with two steals and one RBI. However, he'll return to the big club to fill the void on the 26-man roster left by Josh Jung, who was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left calf strain. Smith will return to major-league action immediately, as he's starting at third base and batting eighth against the Mariners on Saturday.