MLB Player News

Moncada went 0-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored in Thursday's 9-5 loss to the Red Sox.

Moncada was back in the lineup after missing two games due to a right knee contusion, playing against his former team for the first time. The rookie, who batted cleanup for the third time in the last five games, has gone 10 straight at-bats without a hit while striking out six times.

Duffy (heel) is performing limited baseball activities but doesn't have a timetable for a return to game action, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The shortstop is starting to run out of time to log some games at the major-league level in 2017, as he's still unable to return to the minor-league rehab assignment he had to abandon back in mid-May. Duffy underwent a procedure on June 23 that removed a calcium deposit from his surgically repaired heel, and while that appeared to relieve a great deal of his discomfort, he's apparently not yet comfortable enough to test himself in game conditions.

Bregman went 3-for-4 with a double, a run, an RBI and two stolen bases Thursday against the Rays.

Bregman has displayed the all-around hitting ability that made him the second overall pick in the 2015 draft of late, with nine extra-base hits, seven RBI and three steals in his past nine games. Most of that production came while batting in the bottom third of the order, but his recent hot streak has moved Bregman up to the two-hole. He's now slashing .274/.352/.464.

Devers went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and a walk in Thursday's 9-5 win over the White Sox.

Devers' two-run homer completed the scoring in a four-run first inning against starter Miguel Gonzalez. The rookie third baseman has injected new life into an offense that had been struggling prior to his call-up from Triple-A Pawtucket with three home runs among his 13 hits in 37 plate appearances. He's now slashing .406/.486/.750.

Moncada (knee) is batting cleanup and starting at second base Thursday against the Red Sox.

The top prospect is good to go after missing a pair of games due to a knee contusion he suffered in Monday's contest against the Blue Jays. Moncada, who is slashing just .105/.261/.263 in 12 games for the White Sox this season, will look to get things going as he faces Rick Porcello in his return to the lineup.

Chapman went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a walk in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Giants.

Chapman has a tidy run going at the plate, as he's now hit .318 (7-for-22) with a pair of doubles and four RBI over his last six games. The rookie is seeing consistent playing time, which should help him continue improving a .214 average that he's already boosted 29 points over the aforementioned stretch.

Plouffe went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Astros.

It's been a rough season overall for the veteran infielder, whether in an Athletics or Rays uniform. However, he's now put together a modest three-game hitting streak, although Wednesday's double was his first extra-base hit during that stretch. Plouffe's bat still carries some pop, but the uncertainty of his playing time neutralizes his already modest fantasy value. Although the 31-year-old can play both corner infield spots, the recent addition of Lucas Duda caps Plouffe's potential opportunity that much further.

Donaldson homered for the third straight day, going 1-for-3 with two runs and a pair of walks in Wednesday's win against the White Sox.

Wednesday marked Donaldson's first stretch of three games with a homer since August of 2015. He hasn't quite been himself this season, entering Wednesday with a .463 slugging percentage -- his worst such mark since joining the Jays three seasons ago. The good news is that Donaldson seems to be righting the ship at a critical point in the fantasy season. Over his last 10 games, the third baseman has raised his slash line from .236/.356/.422 to .250/.373/.474.

Devers will play third base and bat fifth Wednesday against the Indians, Scott Lauber of ESPN.com reports.

After getting his big-league career off to a 12-for-24 start through seven starts, Devers will be rewarded with his highest placement in the Red Sox lineup to date, as Jackie Bradley moves down to the ninth spot to accommodate the rookie's climb up the batting order. Devers won't be able to sustain his current level of performance, but so long as he remains reasonably productive, he'll likely remain locked into the heart of the Boston lineup.

Chapman went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run in Tuesday's 10-4 loss to the Giants.

The rookie's .202 average obviously has plenty of room for improvement, although he's now hit safely in four of his last five games. Chapman displayed plenty of pop in July -- his first full month in the majors -- by slugging 12 extra-base hits (five doubles, one triple, six home runs) in 91 plate appearances. While the unwieldy combination of a 31.9 percent strikeout rate and .204 BABIP over that stretch kept his average at an unsightly .193, his 37.5 percent hard contact rate could certainly help lead to better overall numbers in the second half.