MLB Player News

Espinal started at third base and went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Pittsburgh.

Espinal received a second consecutive start at the hot corner, as Jeimer Candelario (tendinitis) was unavailable. This could be a situation where manager David Bell is giving Candelario multiple days to rest up, including a team day off Thursday, so that he'll be ready to go Friday when the Reds open a home series against the suddenly hot Red Sox.

Urias went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Yankees.

Urias went deep in the fifth inning for his first homer since June 3. The infielder has hit safely in his last six games, going 8-for-23 (.348) in that span. He had to settle for a utility role early in the year, but he's been staking a larger claim with strong hitting in June. For the season, Urias is slashing .252/.298/.421 with four homers, 10 RBI, 15 runs scored and no stolen bases over 114 plate appearances. He may be set for a short-term bump in playing time if Jordan Westburg (hip) has to sit out more games following his injury Tuesday.

Ramirez went 2-for-4 with one RBI, one stolen base and one run scored in Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Mariners.

Ramirez has picked up right where he left off following a brief stint on the paternity list. He's gone 4-for-9 with two RBI and two runs scored over two games since he returned. The third baseman continues to do a little bit of everything for the Guardians with a .275/.333/.531 slash line, 18 home runs, 12 steals, 64 RBI and 53 runs scored through 68 contests this season. Ramirez is hitting .286 (14-for-49) in June.

Lewis went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in an extra-inning loss to the Rays on Wednesday.

Lewis racked up three of the Twins' nine hits and accounted for their final run of the contest with a solo shot to left field in the fifth inning. The 25-year-old third baseman continues to swing a potent bat, as he's gone deep eight times across just 57 plate appearances this season. He doesn't have nearly enough plate appearances to qualify, but Lewis' .848 slugging percentage on the season would lead MLB by a wide margin if he did.

Paredes went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning win against Minnesota.

Paredes supplied the only run off Twins starter Joe Ryan with his third-inning solo shot to left field. The long ball was his first of June and just his second over his past 25 contests. Paredes has slowed down in the power department after a fast start to the season, but he's still the Rays' leader with 11 home runs overall.

Toro has been dealing with shoulder soreness ever since Sunday's doubleheader against the Twins, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Toro's shoulder injury helps explain why he will be missing his second consecutive game Wednesday versus the Royals. The Athletics are still optimistic that the 27-year-old infielder will be able to avoid a trip to the injured list, but he will see a doctor Wednesday in order to determine the best way to approach his injury. Tyler Nevin figures to operate as Oakland's main third baseman while Toro recovers.

The Brewers optioned Dunn to Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.

Playing time has been hard to come across recently for Dunn, and the emergence of Joey Ortiz hasn't helped. The 26-year-old Dunn has slashed .221/.282/.316 through 104 plate appearances in the big leagues this year and will now head back to the minors to get back on track. Tyler Black was recalled from Nashville in a corresponding move.

Mendick is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.

Mendick started at second base in each of the last three games, but the White Sox faced two lefty starters and a lefty primary pitcher in those contests. He'll head back to the bench Wednesday while the lefty-hitting Nicky Lopez steps back in at the keystone against Astros right-hander Hunter Brown.

Arenado (elbow) said after Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Marlins that he expects to return to the lineup Saturday versus the Giants in St. Louis, Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports.

Arenado was lifted for a pinch runner in the top of the eighth inning after he took a 94 mile-per-hour sinker to his right elbow in his fourth plate appearance of the afternoon. Before departing, Arenado went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored. Though Arenado has been diagnosed with a bruised right elbow after initial X-rays returned negative, he noted that the pitch hit him in a nerve in the elbow that caused his hand to cramp up. Based on his postgame comments, Arenado already seems to be ruling himself out for Thursday's series opener with the Giants at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., but he's counting on being ready to go coming out of Friday's off day.

Toro isn't in the Athletics' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.

Although Toro has slashed .309/.338/.456 against left-handed pitchers this season, the Athletics will give Tyler Nevin another start at third base versus southpaw Cole Ragans.