MLB Player News

Kemp is out of the lineup Sunday against the Athletics.

Kemp will be withheld from the starting nine against Oakland left-hander Sean Manaea, enabling Marwin Gonzalez to pick up a turn in left field. The 26-year-old has delivered a .761 OPS over 20 appearances since the All-Star break, which has helped him retain a semi-regular spot in the Houston lineup.

The Mariners optioned Beckham to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.

Beckham appeared in one game during his brief stint with the Mariners, recording a base hit in a pinch-hit appearance Friday against the Dodgers. He'll likely rejoin the big club when rosters expand in September unless an injury forces a need for another utility infielder before then.

Rodriguez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Twins.

The utility man had started the Tigers' previous four games, with his last three appearances coming at shortstop in place of the injured Jose Iglesias (thumb). With Iglesias cleared to rejoin the lineup in the series finale, Rodriguez appears set to reprise a bench role during the upcoming week.

Kemp went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-1 loss to the Athletics.

Kemp supplied the lone run with his fifth homer of the season in the ninth inning, just the team's second hit off Oakland pitching. He's been getting steady playing time, which could begin to erode when Jose Altuve (knee) returns. Altuve embarks on a rehab assignment Sunday and could be activated early this week. That would allow utility player Marwin Gonzalez to get some time in the outfield. Kemp (.794 OPS), however, has been a more productive hitter than Gonzalez (.703) and could still get four or five starts per week while Gonzalez moves around the diamond to give rest to everyday regulars.

Altuve (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Fresno on Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Fresno will be playing away against Tacoma, while the Astros will be in nearby Seattle starting Monday. It's unclear whether or not he'd be ready to return after just one rehab game, as he's been out since July 25.

Merrifield went 2-for-2 with a double, a run, an RBI and two walks in Friday's loss to the White Sox.

Merrifield slashed an RBI double -- his 32nd two-bagger of the year -- in the third inning off James Shields. He's now matched his doubles total from last year (which he did in 145 games) and he's currently tied for second among all MLB second basemen in the category. The 29-year-old has an excellent .373 on-base percentage and is 26-for-33 in stolen base attempts.

Torres went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored Friday against the Blue Jays.

Torres has been in a slump at the plate over his past 10 games, as his batting average has dropped 20 points (.279 to .259) over that stretch. Despite this, he's recorded a base knock in each of his past two contests, so perhaps this is a sign he's beginning to turn things around. Torres is slashing .259/.324/.490 through 84 games in 2018.

Altuve (knee) could begin a rehab assignment over the weekend, with the potential to return in time for Houston's series against the Mariners that begins Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Altuve traveled with the team and participated in some running prior to Friday's contest, so depending on how his knee feels Saturday, he could embark on a rehabilitation assignment over the next few days. If all goes well, expect Altuve to be activated off the 10-day disabled list early next week.

Altuve (knee) traveled with the Astros to Oakland and ran sprints on the field prior to Friday's matchup with the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Altuve managed to take some grounders and participate in batting practice Wednesday, so it's good to see him starting to ramp up his baseball activities. An exact timetable for his return hasn't been given, but the fact that he's with the team on the road means he could return in the next few days.

Beckham had his contract selected by the Mariners on Friday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The 31-year-old was designated for assignment at the end of July but returns to the 40-man roster with Jean Segura heading to the paternity list. Beckham bolsters the Mariners infield depth but is likely in for a short stay in the majors if everyone remains healthy.