MLB Player News

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Altuve (COVID-19 injured list) has been cleared to resume individual workouts, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Altuve and the other four Astros placed on the COVID-19 IL on Wednesday all appear to have finished their respective quarantine periods, but Baker didn't specify when any of the players might be ready to rejoin the team. Since Baker previously mentioned that the five players in question are unlikely to be available for the team's ongoing road trip, Altuve's earliest possible return date would most likely be Thursday, when the Astros host the Angels.

Urias is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.

Urias' move to the bench comes one day after he tied a franchise record by committing three errors in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Pirates. Despite the poor showing in the field, Urias still appears to be entrenched as the Brewers' everyday shortstop. He's not offering much from a fantasy perspective with a .154 average, one home run and one stolen base through 14 games, but Urias has been more valuable in real life terms thanks to an elite 23.5 percent walk rate.

Biggio (hand) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Royals.

The 26-year-old appeared as a pinch runner during Saturday's doubleheader, but he hasn't played the field or had a plate appearance since Thursday while nursing a bruised right hand. Biggio will have an extra two days to recover with Monday's scheduled off day, so it's not a major surprise to see him on the bench Sunday. Joe Panik will receive the start at third base in the series finale.

Gimenez is not in the lineup Sunday versus the Reds.

Gimenez is 6-for-20 with two homers, three doubles, six runs, four RBI and two stolen bases over the past six games, but he'll head to the bench Sunday with southpaw Wade Miley starting for Cincinnati. Amed Rosario will take over at shortstop while Jordan Luplow starts in center field.

India is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Cleveland.

India will sit for the second Sunday in a row, opening up the keystone for Max Schrock. The rookie began his career with a seven-game hit streak, but his productivity has tailed off over the past week and a half. In his last seven starts, India has gone 3-for-23 with three walks, two runs and an RBI.

Hernandez went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's win over the White Sox.

The versatile Hernandez had his best game of the season from an offensive standpoint, as he reached base four times for the first time in 2021 while plating a run -- he scored Kevin Plawecki with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. The 29-year-old Hernandez extended his hitting streak to three games, and he's now hit safely in seven of Boston's last nine contests while recording four multi-hit appearances during that stretch.

Gimenez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and a stolen base in Saturday's loss to Cincinnati.

Gimenez knocked a solo shot off Reds starter Sonny Gray in the fourth inning to give Cleveland a lead that stood up up until the ninth. The shortstop also stole second base after getting hit by a pitch late in the contest. Gimenez is slashing .235/.297/.500 this season, but he has collected four hits -- three for extra bases -- in his past 11 at-bats.

Lux (wrist) is not in the lineup Saturday against the Padres, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

The 23-year-old was scratched from Thursday's lineup with soreness in his right wrist and is out of action for the third straight game. Manager Dave Roberts said Lux progressed to swinging the bat at about 70 percent Saturday, so there's a chance he's available for Sunday's series finale in San Diego.

Lopez isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

Lopez went 1-for-2 with a run while starting at shortstop in Saturday's matinee. Hanser Alberto will take over at short during the second game of the twin bill, batting seventh.

Biggio (hand) won't start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Royals, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Biggio will do some baseball activities Saturday, and manager Charlie Montoyo said that the 26-year-old could return to action for Sunday's series finale. Santiago Espinal took his place at third base for Saturday's matinee, and Espinal or Joe Panik could be options to fill in for the second game of the twin bill.