MLB Player News

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.

Hernandez, who started at shortstop Tuesday, will get most of the starts in center field going forward, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Hernandez returned from a two-month absence Tuesday due to a hip flexor injury, but he started at short while Jarren Duran occupied center field. Prior to the injury, Hernandez was the team's leadoff hitter, but that role is in the hands of Tommy Pham, who will remain there according to manager Alex Cora. Hernandez will likely hit in the middle or bottom of the order, moving down a peg when Trevor Story (wrist) returns.

Rengifo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in an 8-2 loss to Seattle on Tuesday.

Rengifo got Los Angeles on the board with a solo shot off Seattle starter Robbie Ray in the first inning and tacked on an RBI single in the third. The 25-year-old infielder has gone deep in four of his last eight games, during which he's batted 10-for-25 with a .960 slugging. The recent power surge has Rengifo's season numbers up to .273/.309/.438 with nine home runs, 29 runs, 32 RBI and five stolen bases across 83 games.

Dubon went 3-for-4 with a double in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the White Sox.

Dubon had gone 3-for-24 with a double in his last 10 games since his previous multi-hit effort. The 28-year-old has slipped into a part-time role, though it's not strictly a platoon as the right-handed hitter continues to be included against same-handed pitchers. Through 191 plate appearances between the Astros and the Giants, he's slashing .220/.265/.329 with four home runs, 20 RBI, 23 runs scored and a stolen base this season. He'll likely continue to share center field with Jake Meyers and Chas McCormick.

Altuve went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the White Sox.

Altuve had been stuck on 19 homers for his last 21 games, going 21-for-73 (.288) with nine doubles in that span. He finally snapped the power drought with a fifth-inning solo shot to secure the fifth 20-homer season in his career. The second baseman has added a .280/.369/.507 slash line with 42 RBI, 65 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and 26 doubles through 434 plate appearances.

Frazier went 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs and two RBI during Tuesday's 8-2 victory against the Angels.

Frazier singled and scored during a sixth-inning rally before tripling in two valuable insurance runs and scoring again in the ninth. The multi-hit game marks the 30-year-old's fifth this month and he boasts a solid .269/.367/.365 slash line through 15 August games, though the triple was only his fourth extra-base hit in that span and he hasn't homered since July 13.