MLB Player News

Altuve went 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and three runs scored in Friday's 10-5 win over the Angels.

Altuve drove in Aledmys Diaz on a single in the fourth inning. He scored in the third, fourth and seventh innings. In addition, he was hit by a pitch in the seventh, reaching base for the fourth time. The 31-year-old is having a great start to September, batting .345 with a pair of long balls, four RBI and eight runs in seven games. On the season, he is slashing .276/.351/.485 with 27 homers, 72 RBI and 97 runs scored in 587 plate appearances.

Kemp went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs in a win over the Rangers on Friday and is 4-for-8 overall in his first two contests since returning from a one-game absence due to a wrist injury.

Kemp commemorated his return in Thursday's win over the White Sox by lacing an RBI triple -- his third three-bagger of the campaign -- to open the scoring against Chicago. Factoring in Friday's productive outing, Kemp is now hitting .400 (14-for-35) with two doubles, Thursday's triple, two home runs, seven RBI and five runs across his last 10 games.

Arauz was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Arauz was initially sent to Triple-A Worcester on Friday, but he'll instead land on the COVID-19 IL. The team is calling the move precautionary since the 23-year-old is experiencing symptoms but has continued to test negative. Once Arauz is activated, it wouldn't be surprising to see him sent down.

Arauz was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Arauz had started each of the last nine games for the Red Sox, but he'll head back to the minors after Xander Bogaerts (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday. The 23-year-old hit .167 with three home runs, two doubles, seven runs and six RBI in 12 games while filling in for the Red Sox during their recent COVID-19 outbreak.

Arraez isn't starting Friday's game against the Royals.

Arraez went 2-for-12 with a triple, an RBI and a walk across the last three games, but he'll head to the bench with left-hander Daniel Lynch starting for the Royals. Josh Donaldson will start at third base while Rob Refsnyder enters the lineup in left field.

Motter was outrighted to Triple-A Worcester after clearing waivers Friday.

Motter lost his spot on the 40-man roster earlier in the week after Danny Santana and Enrique Hernandez returned from the COVID-19 injured list. The infielder didn't garner any takers on the waiver wire, so he'll remain in the Boston organization at Triple-A going forward. Motter has appeared in 16 big-league games with the Red Sox and Rockies this season, logging five hits (two XBH), one RBI and five runs scored across 29 plate appearances.

Lopez went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 6-0 win over Baltimore.

The 26-year-old went deep in the first inning, and that was the only run until he added an RBI single in the eighth. Lopez is far from a power hitter, as Thursday's homer was just his second of the year. He's still been hot at the plate lately, with multiple hits in five of six games during his current hitting streak. The shortstop owns a .297/.365/.375 slash line with 38 RBI, 62 runs scored and 19 stolen bases across 469 plate appearances.

Gimenez isn't starting Thursday's game against Minnesota.

Gimenez went just 1-for-8 with four strikeouts across the last two games, and he'll head to the bench for the second time in the last four contests. Owen Miller will start at the keystone and bat seventh.

Kemp (wrist) will bat seventh and play right field Thursday against the White Sox.

Kemp left Tuesday's game with a left wrist injury and didn't participate in Wednesday's contest, but the issue has evidently cleared up. He was swinging a hot bat immediately prior to the injury, hitting .370 with a pair of homers over his last eight games.

Merrifield went 3-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 9-8 loss to the Orioles.

The 32-year-old has now reached the 40-steal plateau for the second time in his career, leaving him three back of Starling Marte for the major-league lead. Merrifield is finishing up the season on a roll, slashing .315/.347/.483 over his last 20 games with two homers, six stolen bases, 11 RBI and 19 runs.