MLB Player News

Diaz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Monday.

Diaz now has an extra-base hit in four straight contests, going 7-for-18 with three doubles, two homers, four RBI and five runs during that span. The 35-year-old's homer Monday provided some key insurance runs late, pushing Tampa Bay's lead to 7-3 in the eighth inning to help secure a World Series berth. Diaz has a .906 OPS in 41 plate appearances during the postseason.

Diaz went 2-for-5 with a double, a two-run homer and an additional run scored in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Saturday.

Diaz scored Tampa Bay's first run after doubling during the third inning and provided some late insurance with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to stretch the lead to 7-3. It's been a productive series thus far for the 35-year-old slugger, who is batting .278 (5-for-18) with three doubles, a homer, two RBI and four runs through four games.

Benintendi is absent from the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of the ALDS against the Guardians.

The Guardians are starting a right-handed opener in Daniel Espino, but with either lefties Foster Griffin or Joey Cantillo likely to pitch in bulk relief, the lefty-swinging Benintendi will begin the contest on the bench. Benintendi is 1-for-5 with one RBI and a 2:3 BB:K so far during the postseason. Sam Antonacci is occupying the designated hitter spot, and Randal Grichuk will play left field as the White Sox try to close out the Guardians.

Rice went 2-for-3 with a walk and two solo home runs during Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rays on Monday.

The 27-year-old slugger launched solo shots during the fourth and eighth innings, but the rest of the Yankees offense stayed dormant in Tampa Bay. It's already Rice's second two-homer game of the playoffs, which matches the number of times he achieved that feat across 154 contests during the regular season. After scoring nine runs in both wild-card games last week, Rice's two solo shots are the only offense New York has managed in the first two games of the ALDS.

Gasper is expected to be sidelined 4-to-6 month after undergoing distal right biceps tendon surgery Friday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

The 4-to-6 month timeline is for Gasper's return to game action, so there's a good chance he'll be held out of spring training action initially, and his availability for Opening Day isn't a given. Gasper slashed .251/.357/.466 with 10 home runs and a 27:39 BB:K over 67 games in 2026.

Rice went 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs and six RBI in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old posted a 1.055 OPS over 22 games in September and carried his hot bat into the postseason with a fifth-inning solo homer and an eighth-inning grand slam in Tuesday's blowout victory. Rice clubbed 41 homers with 97 RBI, 105 runs and a .264/.363/.534 slash line in 154 regular-season games this year, with his breakout helping to cover the absence of Aaron Judge (calf).

Gasper will undergo surgery Friday to repair a torn right biceps, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Gasper's biceps tendon tore completely off the bone on a swinging strikeout during a Sept. 25 contest against the Cubs. He will be unavailable for the entirety of the postseason, and it's unclear how long the rehab process will take. Assuming health, Gasper should be in the mix for a utility role with the Red Sox again next season after slashing .251/.357/.466 with 10 home runs and a 27:39 BB:K over 67 games in 2026.

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said Tuesday that Gonzalez is still recovering from a hyperextended elbow injury suffered at Triple-A Worcester but is "very much in play" for the ALDS roster if Boston advances, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Gonzalez slashed just .185/.264/.308 in 19 games for the Red Sox this season and spent the final two months of the year at Worcester. However, the 30-year-old had a .978 OPS versus lefties in 2025, so he could be a useful reserve for the Red Sox in subsequent rounds if he can get healthy.

The Yankees activated Stanton (calves) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Stanton has been sidelined since late April due to injuries to both calves, but he increased his baseball activities enough in recent days to convince the Yankees to carry him on their American League Wild Card Series roster against the Red Sox. The 36-year-old could be limited primarily to a pinch-hitting role for the Yankees.

Stanton (calves) ran the bases at Yankee Stadium on Monday in addition to taking live batting practice, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Stanton hasn't played in a game since late April, first due to a right calf strain and later because of a strain to his left calf. However, he's improved enough that he's under consideration for the Yankees' wild-card roster versus the Red Sox.