MLB Player News

Ramirez (elbow) will start at third base and bat third Thursday against the Rays.

Ramirez will check back into the starting nine after Cleveland elected to keep him on the bench for Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Astros due to a sore left elbow. While Cleveland isn't expected to shut Ramirez down as a result of the injury, manager Terry Francona suggested the veteran could get more frequent maintenance days in the second half as the club looks to preserve his health for the balance of the season. Ramirez has been one of the few bright spots this season in an otherwise lackluster Cleveland lineup, batting .254 with 19 home runs and nine stolen bases.

The Tigers placed Paredes on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right hip strain.

Paredes had been withheld from the lineup the previous two days with what was described as a sore hip, but upon further evaluation, the Tigers reclassified the infielder's injury as a strain. The transaction is retroactive to Tuesday, so Paredes will first be eligible to return from the IL on July 31. Detroit called up Willi Castro from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move, and he and Harold Castro will likely share second base until either Paredes or Niko Goodrum (calf) is back in action.

Devers went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 7-4 win against the Blue Jays.

The third baseman crushed a 414-foot solo shot to center field in the fourth inning for one of five Red Sox round trippers in the game. Devers is up to 24 homers on the season, putting him in a tie for sixth place leaguewide. He is well within reach of his career-high mark of 32 dingers set in 2019.

Ramirez isn't starting Wednesday's game against Houston due to left elbow soreness, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Ramirez will get occasional days off in the coming weeks since he hasn't fully recovered from his left elbow soreness, so his absence from the lineup for a second straight day isn't overly surprising. Ernie Clement will take over at third base and bat ninth in place of Ramirez, who could be back in the lineup for Thursday's series opener against the Rays.

Paredes (hip) was scratched from the lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

According to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com, the Tigers believed Paredes was ready to return from a one-game absence, but his sore hip was apparently still presenting issues for him when he went through a workout earlier Wednesday. Harold Castro will pick up another start at second base in place of Paredes, who is considered day-to-day.

LeMahieu (illness) is starting Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

LeMahieu was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Phillies due to a stomach virus, but he took a rapid COVID-19 test that came back negative. He'll start at first base and lead off Wednesday.

The Twins will call up Astudillo from Triple-A St. Paul prior to Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.

Astudillo returns to the majors after playing 22 games in St. Paul, with which he hit .281 with two home runs. He'll be used in a utility role and may not get much time at catcher with Mitch Garver back from a groin injury. Alex Kirilloff (wrist) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.

Paredes (hip) will start at second base and bat sixth Wednesday against the Rangers, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Paredes checks back into the lineup after a sore hip relegated him to a bench role in Tuesday's 4-1 win. He'll likely serve as Detroit's primary option at the keystone until Niko Goodrum (calf) is ready tor return from the injured list.

Walls is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The promotions of prospects Wander Franco and Vidal Brujan have most negatively affected Joey Wendle and Walls, the latter of whom will sit for the second time in four games. Walls' excellent glove at shortstop should continue to lock him into at least a part-time job, but he'll need to show improvement at the dish in order to see his role grow. Over his last five starts, Walls has gone 1-for-15 with five strikeouts, dropping his batting average to .216.

Moncada went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a double in Tuesday's 9-5 win over the Twins.

Moncada had his first three-hit game since April 24 and delivered his third homer over his last four games with a towering two-run shot to center to put the White Sox up 4-1 in the third. The lack of power from the bat of Moncada has been a disappointment all season long, but he's finally starting to show signs of life with his recent surge at the dish. The 26-year-old has a hit in 10 of 12 games so far this month and is slashing .279/.402/.425 with eight homers, 44 RBI, 42 runs scored, two steals and a 57:90 BB:K over 358 plate appearances on the season.