MLB Player News

Duffy (back) was activated from the 60-day injured list and is starting at third base Friday versus Arizona.

Duffy has been sidelined since May 22 due to a strain in his lower back, and he'll slot into the fifth spot in the lineup in his return. Patrick Wisdom has taken over the regular role at third base with Kris Bryant shifting to left field, but Duffy should at least see semi-regular starts as a utility player.

Muncy will be placed on the paternity list Friday and miss this weekend's series against the Rockies, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Muncy's move to the paternity list was mentioned by manager Dave Roberts at the start of the week, though the slugger was able to play in four games against the Giants. The 30-year-old will be away from the Dodgers this weekend while spending time with his family, and he'll rejoin the team Tuesday in San Francisco after Monday's scheduled off day.

Ramirez (elbow) went 0-for-3 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to Tampa Bay.

Ramirez's hitless skid ran to 0-for-11, but he was able to draw a pair of walks that ultimately helped him salvage some productivity. The third baseman continues to battle lingering left elbow soreness, which may be part of the explanation for his recent struggles at the plate. He's slashing .252/.342/.500 with 19 home runs, 52 RBI, 63 runs scored and 10 stolen bases through 357 plate appearances. Ramirez will likely continue to play through his injury, but expect manager Terry Francona to take a cautious approach with the 28-year-old until he's back to full health.

Arenado went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Cubs.

Arenado's third-inning blast would give St. Louis enough offense to get the win Thursday. It was the second homer in three games for the third baseman, who now has 19 long balls this year. He's posted a steady .258/.310/.493 slash line with 59 RBI, 45 runs scored and a stolen base through 393 plate appearances.

Longoria (shoulder) is working through a hitting progression and has begun other baseball activities, Amy Gutierrez of the Giants' official site reports.

Longoria was transferred to the 60-day injured list in mid-July, which means he will be out until at least early August. An activation when first eligible appears to be a possibility, and he could begin a rehab assignment before the end of the month.

Chicago won't activate Duffy (back) from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Duffy looked on track to return from the IL for Thursday's series finale in St. Louis, and though he hasn't suffered any sort of setback, the Cubs will instead wait at least one more day to reinstate him. Rather than bringing back Duffy, the Cubs called up reliever Trevor Megill from Triple-A Iowa to fill the opening on the active roster created by infielder Sergio Alcantara's demotion. Once activated, Duffy will likely be relegated to a utility role in the infield, though he could settle into a near-everyday role in the event Kris Bryant's hamstring injury forces him to the IL.

Urshela (illness) could rejoin the Yankees prior to the end of the current series against the Red Sox that runs through Sunday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Urshela was one of six confirmed positive cases for COVID-19 among the Yankees last week, but he's apparently tested negative now since he's traveling to meet the team in Boston. The 29-year-old should reclaim his role as the primary third baseman once he's cleared to return, but DJ LeMahieu and Tyler Wade should continue to fill in while he's sidelined.

Maton (finger) was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Maton has been dealing with a laceration on his right middle finger for nearly a week, and he hasn't recorded any plate appearances since suffering the injury. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available for the minor-league club right away, but Odubel Herrera (ankle) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.

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.