MLB Player News

The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

The transaction likely clears the way for infielder Michael Massey (back) to be activated from the 10-day injured list, but the Royals will wait until shortly before Friday's game against the Orioles before announcing a corresponding move. Loftin has slashed .276/.371/.276 over 13 games in a part-time role for Kansas City this season.

Marte went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and two RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Cubs.

Marte led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run, jumping on the first pitch he saw from Jordan Wicks to give the Diamondbacks an early 1-0 lead. He then doubled in his next at-bat to lead off the third and singled home a run in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2. The second baseman continues to swing a hot bat and has now recorded at least three hits in back-to-back contests, raising his batting average to .325 in the process. Marte has also homered in two straight games, giving him five long balls in the early campaign.

Altuve went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to Atlanta.

The veteran second baseman racked up his fifth multi-hit performance over the last seven games, a stretch in which Altuve is batting a blistering .467 (14-for-30). He was hardly cold before that though, and he's failed to collect a hit in only one of his first 20 games. On the season, Altuve is slashing .388/.462/.675 with five homers, two steals, seven RBI and 15 runs scored.

Rodgers (illness) appeared as a pinch runner Wednesday against the Phillies.

Rodgers has been out of the lineup for three games with an illness, but he entered Wednesday's contest in the eighth inning. There hasn't been official word from the club, but his appearance was a positive sign for his availability Friday.

Espinal made a second consecutive start at third base in place of an unavailable Jeimer Candelario (illness) on Wednesday and went 0-for-3 in a 5-1 loss to the Mariners.

Espinal is 0-for-6 in the two starts and hitless over his last eight at-bats. With a scheduled day off Thursday, Candelario could be ready to go Friday at home against the Angels.

Drury won't start and will only be available to pinch hit Wednesday and Thursday against the Rays due to left hamstring tightness, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Drury may still be used as supplementary help with batting, but he will miss his third straight start come Thursday. Though his ability to still pinch hit if necessary is encouraging, the Angels are being cautious with the 31-year-old's hamstring issue, and it is still unknown if he will return to the field Friday against the Reds.

Drury (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Tampa Bay, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Drury will miss a second straight start with a hamstring issue. He declared himself available to play off the bench Tuesday, so it would seem fair to call Drury day-to-day. The Angels will deploy Luis Rengifo at second base and Nolan Schanuel at first base Wednesday.

Rodgers (illness) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Philadelphia.

Rodgers will miss a third straight start due to illness. He should be ready to play in Friday's series opener against the Mariners following Thursday's team off day. Alan Trejo will make another start at the keystone in Rodgers' place Wednesday.

Hoerner went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a run batted in during Tuesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Hoerner put up his fourth career four-hit game Tuesday and after scoring twice, he ranks second on the Cubs in runs scored in 2024 (12). Over his last eight games, Hoerner is 11-for-27 (.407) and boasts an impressive .403 on-base percentage for the season, though he still does not have a stolen base.

Marte went 4-for-6 with a solo home run and two additional runs scored during Tuesday's 12-11 win over the Cubs.

Marte delivered a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the ninth off Adbert Alzolay, setting up the D-Backs' 10-inning victory. He racked up a trio of hits outside of the homer and is now slashing .301/.361/.534 with four home runs and the second-most runs scored in MLB (19).