MLB Player News

Polanco went 2-for-5 with an RBI single in Friday's 6-2 extra-innings loss to the Indians.

The shortstop knocked a go-ahead single in the fifth inning, although the Twins bullpen couldn't make the lead hold up. Polanco is batting .302/.365/.491 with 70 RBI, 92 runs scored and 20 homers in a breakout season, missing just one game with a finger injury. He needs just four RBI to match his career high from 2017.

Rodriguez is not starting Friday against Oakland.

Rodriguez hits the bench for the second time in three games. Harold Castro will start at second base in his absence.

Polanco (finger) is back in the lineup Friday against Cleveland, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Polanco missed Thursday's game against the Red Sox with a sore right middle finger, but the issue evidently wasn't particularly serious. He'll bat second and play shortstop Friday.

Biggio is not in the lineup for Friday's game at Tampa Bay.

Biggio will take a seat after starting the last 13 games and posting a .209/.382/.419 slash line in that stretch. Brandon Drury will start at the keystone in his place Friday.

Forsythe is not in the lineup for Friday's game at Baltimore.

Forsythe went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Thursday's contest but will return to the bench Friday. Danny Santana will cover the hot corner while Ronald Guzman starts at first base.

Semien went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a stolen base and three runs in a win over the Angels on Thursday.

Semien's stellar night at the plate was just the latest installment in what is shaping up as a career-best season. The veteran shortstop has racked up five multi-hit efforts over his last 10 games, a stretch during which he's also impressively compiled 13 RBI.

Estrada (hamstring) will play for Double-A Trenton on Friday, Greg Johnson of The Trentonian reports.

Per Johnson, Estrada will not play the entire game, though the exact number of innings he will be on the field has yet to be determined. The 23-year-old has been out of action since being placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring Aug. 18.

Mendick started at third base and went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday's 7-1 win over the Indians.

Mendick is a fringe prospect that doesn't project to have a role next season. He plays three infield positions, two of which are jammed up by third baseman Yoan Moncada and shortstop Tim Anderson. He could compete for a job at second base next spring, but that spot will eventually go to Nick Madrigal, who finished the 2019 season at Triple-A.

Polanco is not in Thursday's lineup against the Red Sox due to a sore right middle finger, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Miller reports that Polanco exited Wednesday's game in the eighth inning due to the issue, which has been bothering him "for awhile now," according to manager Rocco Baldelli. Luis Arraez is starting at shortstop in his place Thursday, with Jonathan Schoop getting the nod at second base.

Chavis (shoulder/oblique) suffered a setback and is unlikely to return this season, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Chavis, who has been sidelined since mid-August with a sprained shoulder, was originally hoping to rejoin the Red Sox over the weekend before suffering a right oblique injury. With less than a month left in the season, manager Alex Cora didn't sound optimistic about the rookie's chances of returning this season. "We're running out of time," said the skipper, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Look for Brock Holt and Marco Hernandez to continue filling in at the keystone for the Red Sox down the stretch.