MLB Player News

Ramirez is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.

Ramirez started the last two contests upon his activation from the injured list, but he will get a breather Friday as the Guardians ease their star back into things. Gabriel Arias will cover third base.

Mayo is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand is making a fourth straight start at third base, and this is the first one of those that's come against a right-hander. Mayo has massive splits this season, sporting a 1.071 OPS against lefties and just a .455 OPS versus righties.

The Blue Jays transferred Barger (back/elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday.

Barger initially landed on the IL back in May due to elbow inflammation, but he was shut down in late June due to a stress reaction in his back and hasn't yet resumed baseball activities. Since he's already been on the shelf for more than two months and is without a timeline for a return, his move to the 60-day IL is merely procedural. The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for outfielder Rudy Martin, whom the Blue Jays claimed off waivers from the Orioles on Thursday.

The Blue Jays optioned Keys to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.

With just three starts over the last 10 games, Keys hasn't been playing enough to justify his inclusion on the big-league roster, and he hasn't helped himself by going 6-for-36 with a 35.1 percent strikeout rate. He will be given regular reps again at Buffalo.

Ramirez went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in the 10-6 defeat to Minnesota on Wednesday.

Ramirez got a big ovation from the Progressive Field crowd in his first game back in five weeks because of a hand injury. The former All-Star showed why he is one of the perennial top athletes in the sport with two RBI and a created run by tagging to second on a flyout and subsequently scoring on a bloop single.

Paredes went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Marlins.

Paredes has homered in consecutive contests. He's also on an eight-game hitting streak, having gone 12-for-31 (.387) with seven RBI in that span. The third baseman is now batting .263 with a .792 OPS, 14 long balls, 54 RBI, 42 runs scored, 18 doubles, one triple and no stolen bases over 97 contests in a near-everyday role.

Moncada (knee) has been rehabbing at his home and hasn't started baseball activities, MLB.com reports.

Moncada underwent right knee surgery in mid-June and was consequently placed on the 60-day IL. While the veteran third baseman is expected to return this season, a definitive timeline isn't clear given his inability to resume baseball activities to this point. Denzer Guzman and Vaughn Grissom have been sharing duties at the hot corner for the Angels of late.

Okamoto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Okamoto will head to the bench for the first time since June 30 after going 0-for-18 with a 2:5 BB:K in the Blue Jays' first five games coming out of the All-Star break. Sean Keys will step in at third base for the slumping Okamoto.

Mayo is not in the lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Boston.

Mayo doubled and scored a run in the first game of the twin bill but will get a breather in the second game. Johnathan Rodriguez will serve as the designated hitter, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand will play third base.

Jung (calf) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.

Ezequiel Duran will draw the start at third base in place of Jung, who was lifted early in Tuesday's 10-0 win due to left calf tightness. Per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, Jung downplayed any concern about the injury, noting that he feels fine and expects to be available off the bench Wednesday. The Rangers will have a team day off Thursday, so with two full days of rest on tap, Jung could be ready for the three-game series versus the Mariners this weekend.