MLB Player News

Merrifield went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-4 win over the Astros.

Merrifield knocked the third pitch of the game from Houston starter Cristian Javier over the fence for a 360-foot leadoff homer. Long balls are pretty rare for Merrifield -- he hadn't hit one since May 23. He's up to four homers with 34 RBI, 44 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 18 doubles, a triple and a .239/.292/.337 slash line in 80 contests overall. While the batting line is a step down from his usual level, he's hit .286 with a .758 OPS and seven steals in his last 26 games, which is an extended run of success more in line with preseason expectations.

Arraez went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored Wednesday against the White Sox.

Arraez delivered an RBI single in the second inning and managed to score multiple runs for the second time in his last three starts. He also extended his hitting streak to seven games, during which he's hit .500 with two RBI and six runs scored. Arraez is hitting .354/.425/.455 on the season -- good for a .388 wOBA and 157 wRC+.

Polanco went 2-for-4 with a walk, two home runs and three RBI on Wednesday against the White Sox.

Polanco went yard in the fifth and seventh innings to bring his homer total on the season to 12. He's been on a power surge since returning from a back injury June 28, smacking five home runs across his last eight starts. Polanco owns a .338 wOBA and 122 wRC+ across 286 plate appearances on the season.

Lowe (back) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lowe was transferred to the 60-day injured list Tuesday but will return to game action at the Triple-A level, which likely represents the final step in his recovery process. Although the 28-year-old is eligible to return to the Rays in mid-July, manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that he doesn't expect Lowe to be activated until after the All-Star break.

Altuve isn't starting Wednesday against the Royals.

Altuve has recorded hits in each of the last five games and has slashed .429/.500/.667 with a homer, two doubles, four runs, three RBI and a stolen base during that time. However, he'll get a day off while Mauricio Dubon starts at second base and leads off.

Arroyo will start at third base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Rays, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

For the second game in a row, Arroyo will be filling in at the hot corner for Rafael Devers, who is getting some extra maintenance for hamstring and back injuries. Arroyo will be making his fourth consecutive start overall, having gone 5-for-11 with two walks and two runs over the preceding three contests. So long as Devers isn't forced to go on the 10-day injured list, however, Arroyo will soon move back into a reserve role.

The White Sox transferred Mendick (knee) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.

Mendick was already going to miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, so the move to the 60-day IL is merely procedural. The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Eloy Jimenez (hamstring), who is starting in Wednesday's series finale with the Twins after being activated from the 60-day IL.

Miller will start at first base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

With Josh Naylor (back) still battling an injury, Miller will pick up his third straight start at first base. Miller went 3-for-8 with three RBI over the previous two contests, but once the Guardians are back to full strength in the infield, he's expected to sit more regularly against right-handed pitching and draw most of his starts versus lefties.

Gimenez isn't starting Wednesday against Detroit.

Gimenez will get a day off after he went 1-for-11 with an RBI, a walk and three strikeouts over the last four games. Ernie Clement is starting at the keystone and batting seventh.

Rengifo went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Marlins.

The 25-year-old switch hitter has heated up once again as he looks to prove he's a long-term solution for the Angels in the middle infield. Rengifo has hit safely in five straight games and 10 of the last 11, batting .359 (14-for-39) over that stretch with three of his five homers and one of his two steals on the year.