MLB Player News

Polanco (knee) played catch Thursday, the most baseball activity he's done since landing on the injured list last week, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Polanco missed a week with patellar tendinitis before he landed on the injured list Sept. 3. He's eligible to return during this weekend's series against the Guardians, but it's more likely his absence extends into next week.

Hoerner went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and a run scored in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Reds.

Hoerner helped get the Cubs on the board with a leadoff triple in the bottom of the fifth inning before scoring on a sacrifice fly. He also recorded a double in the bottom of the seventh, his 20th of the season. Hoerner had been in a bit of a funk recently, slashing just .181/.234/.264 in 20 games leading up to Thursday, but he has started to turn it around with five hits in his last three games.

Donovan went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in Thursday's 11-6 loss to the Nationals.

Donovan did his job as the leadoff man Thursday, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. The effort increased his OBP to .400 on the season, good for fourth in the majors among batters with at least 300 plate appearances. His two runs now bring his total to nine in his last 10 games, as he has thrived hitting in front of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado recently.

Kemp (groin) is starting Thursday's game against the White Sox.

Kemp didn't play Wednesday against Atlanta due to groin tightness, but he'll start at second base and lead off a day later. He's in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak in which he's batting .297 with three doubles, seven runs and six RBI.

Arraez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Arraez started the past 11 games and will receive a day off after he posted a .630 OPS during that stretch. Jose Miranda will move to first base while Carlos Correa rests his legs as the designated hitter.

Kemp's absence from the Athletics lineup Wednesday against Atlanta was due to groin tightness, but manager Mark Kotsay isn't concerned it will lead to an extended absence, the Associated Press reports.

The veteran was initially thought to just be getting a late-season rest day, but this report indicates otherwise. It remains to be seen if Kemp, who's currently carrying a nine-game hitting streak and has already played the second-most games (124) of his career this season, will be in the lineup for the start of a four-game series with the White Sox on Thursday night.

Gorman isn't starting Thursday against the Nationals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Gorman started the last four games and went 3-for-13 with a homer, a double, two RBI and seven strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Albert Pujols serves as the designated hitter and bats sixth.

McNeil went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double, a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base in a 10-0 win over the Pirates during the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader.

After picking up an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the matinee, McNeil was one of six different Mets to record multiple hits in the nightcap, chipping in his third steal of the year as well. Over his last 30 games, McNeil is slashing a blistering .361/.390/.500, but the hits haven't turned into a lot of production as he's compiled just one homer, one steal, 11 RBI and 13 runs over that stretch.

Hernandez went 2-for-5 with a double in Wednesday's loss to the Rays.

Hernandez recorded a double off lefty starter Jeffrey Springs to lead off the game but was left stranded. The 31-year-old's .637 OPS in 2022 represents his lowest mark since 2016. Hernandez's slugging has improved in his last 17 games as he has two home runs and four doubles for a .441 slugging percentage in 59 at-bats.

Lowe went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's victory over the Red Sox.

Lowe missed little more than the 10-day minimum due to a right triceps/elbow contusion, and he went hitless in his return Wednesday and now has a .128/.261/.128 slash line over his past 13 contests. The second baseman is also 15 games removed from his last extra-base hit and 16 from his last home run.