MLB Player News

The Reds intend to add Herrera to the mix of their outfielders, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports. "I want to get Herrera as much work as we can taking balls out there during batting practice," interim manager Jim Riggleman said Monday. "We're trying to find a right-handed complement to Mason [Williams]."

This reverses course from the Reds' stance from two weeks ago, but much has changed since then. Scott Schebler (shoulder) had a setback in his rehab, Jesse Winker (shoulder) is out for the season, and Adam Duvall has been traded. Herrera has had a hard time getting playing time, even in a pinch-hitting capacity. He has only played in three of the Reds' last nine games, compiling eight at-bats.

Astros team doctors are "very pleased" with Altuve's progress from a right knee injury, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Altuve returned to Houston to visit with the team's medical staff Monday. "We have a really good plan in place," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He is making the progress that the doctors are happy with. We'll try to initiate more baseball stuff this weekend." If he begins baseball activities this weekend, a return to the active roster could happen as soon as next week. Altuve has been on the disabled list since July 26 with soreness in the knee.

Marte is not starting Monday against the Phillies.

Marte is hitting .358/.452/.528 over 16 games since the All-Star break. Daniel Descalso will get the start at second base in his place Monday.

Jones went 2-for-5 with a home run, double and five RBI for Double-A Mobile in its 10-1 win over Birmingham on Sunday.

Jones has turned in multi-hit performances in four of his last five starts with Mobile, lifting his batting line to .257/.353/.406 through his first 25 games in the Southern League. The 21-year-old has unsurprisingly seen his numbers take a slight hit from 2017 while facing off against higher-caliber competition, but he's thus far received high praise from within the organization for the transition he has made defensively from the outfield to second base.

The Blue Jays outrighted Sweeney to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.

As anticipated, Sweeney went unclaimed off waivers when he was designated for assignment last week and will remain in the Blue Jays' system as a depth outfielder in the minors. Sweeney has seen action in two games with the big club this season, marking his first appearances in the majors since the 2015 campaign.

Lowe made his major-league debut in Sunday's loss to the White Sox, going 0-for-4 with a walk.

The highly touted prospect is up from Triple-A Durham in the wake of Daniel Robertson's likely season-ending thumb injury. Lowe has been on the fast track through the Rays organization and deservedly so, making it to the big-league level in two years-plus. The 24-year-old was in the midst of his best pro season with the Bulls prior to his promotion, and he'll look to carry that momentum over against the stiffer level of competition.

Frazier went 2-for-4 with a double and homer Sunday against the Cardinals.

He's currently the hottest hitter on the team, going 13-for-31 with seven doubles and one home run since July 25. Frazier has started the last three games and the four-bagger was his first ever off a lefty. He's stayed hot for extended periods in the past and is doing so again.

Kemp went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Houston's 3-2 loss to the Dodgers on Sunday.

Kemp was back in the lineup with after getting hit in the foot by a pitch on Saturday, and he showed no ill effects from the knock, launching his fourth homer of the season with this fifth-inning solo shot off Walker Buehler. The 26-year-old doesn't provide much power, but he's still managed to post sneakily solid fantasy value this season, thanks to his terrific .382 on-base percentage and eight stolen bases over 153 at-bats.

Lux has gone 6-for-13 with a home run and stolen base through his first three games with Double-A Tulsa.

Though it's been a small sample of action, Lux has thus far carried over his success from the California League in his initial appearances in the Texas League. With 42 extra-base hits between the two levels, the 20-year-old has displayed more power than anticipated at this stage of his development. He'll look to continue raking at Double-A in 2018 and position himself for a potential big-league callup at some point in 2019.

Altuve (knee) won't be activated from the 10-day disabled list during the Astros' two-game set in San Francisco that begins Monday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston reports.

Rather than make the trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco with his teammates, Altuve will instead head back to Houston to meet with team doctors for further evaluation. It's uncertain how much progress Altuve has made in his recovery from the sore right knee since landing on the 10-day disabled list a week earlier, but more clarity on that front should be available in the next day or two. The Astros appear set to proceed with Marwin Gonzalez as their primary option at second base until the reigning AL MVP is deemed healthy enough to play on an everyday basis.