MLB Player News

Gasper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during the Red Sox's 3-2 loss to the Royals on Friday.

Seth Lugo kept the Red Sox off the board through the first four innings of Friday's game, but Gasper changed things with a solo homer to right-center field in the fifth inning. It was the ninth homer of the season for Gasper, six of which have come at Fenway Park. Since being promoted from the minors in mid-August, he has gone 18-for-59 (.305) with 16 RBI and 13 extra-base hits.

Montes is not in Seattle's lineup against the Athletics on Friday.

With Jeffrey Springs toeing the slab for the A's, the left-handed-hitting Montes will ride the pine for Friday's series opener. Dominic Canzone will man right field and bat third for the Mariners.

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters that Alvarez is not in the starting lineup against the Rays on Friday due to a right ankle injury, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It's not clear when Alvarez tweaked his ankle, though it could be part of the reason why his production at the plate in September has taken a dip (7-for-33 across nine games). He'll take batting practice and do some work before Friday's game in the hope that he's available off the bench, and he could be back in the lineup for Saturday's contest. Jose Altuve will serve as Houston's designated hitter for the series opener in Tampa Bay.

Alvarez is not in the Astros' starting lineup against the Rays on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez is already up to a career-high 637 plate appearances on the season and has gone 7-for-33 (.212) with one home run, two RBI and 10 strikeouts in September. He'll get a rest day for Friday's series opener, with Jose Altuve serving as the designated hitter and Nick Allen drawing the start at second base.

Springer (shoulder) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Friday's contest against the Orioles.

Springer has been slowed this week by a nagging left shoulder issue, but he appeared off the bench in the Blue Jays' last game Wednesday and is back in the lineup for the series opener versus Baltimore.

Pederson went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in a loss to the Mariners on Thursday.

Pederson opened the scoring in the contest with a two-run blast off Logan Gilbert in the third inning. That was his lone hit of the game, and Pederson has now gone 39 contests since his last multi-hit effort. Still, he's continued to provide power when in the lineup -- Pederson has gone just 15-for-88 (.170 batting average) during the aforementioned 39-game stretch, but seven of those hits have left the park. With 26 long balls overall on the campaign, Pederson has tied the second highest single-season mark of his career.

Springer (shoulder) pinch hit for Nathan Lukes and flew out in the eighth inning of Wednesday's loss to the A's.

The 36-year-old outfielder has been held out of the starting nine the last two games due to a left shoulder issue, but Wednesday's usage is a good sign the Blue Jays don't think he'll need an IL stint. Springer has had a tough season overall due to various injuries, but over the 14 games prior to his shutdown he'd delivered a .333/.370/.569 slash line with six doubles, two homers, two steals, eight runs and eight RBI.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Springer is not in Wednesday's lineup versus the Athletics due to a nagging left shoulder and other bumps and bruises, Theo DeRosa of MLB.com reports.

It's the second straight day Springer has been held out and the fourth time over the last seven contests that he's been absent from the Toronto lineup. Springer is available off the bench Wednesday and there's a good chance he'll be back in the Blue Jays' lineup Friday when they return home to host the Orioles. Alejandro Kirk is getting a day at designated hitter Wednesday.

Springer is not in Toronto's lineup for Tuesday's matchup with the A's.

Springer has now been absent from the starting nine for two of the Blue Jays' last three games. The 36-year-old went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts during Monday's series opener against the Athletics. Jesus Sanchez will slot in as the designated hitter and bat eighth for Toronto.

Gasper is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Angels, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Gasper started the previous eight contests and will receive a day off after batting .231 (6-for-26) with a double, three homers and a 7:6 BB:K during that span. Willson Contreras (hamstring) could be back from the injured list as soon as Friday, but the Red Sox may try to keep Gasper in the lineup however they can given his recent offensive production. Nick Sogard will pick up a start at first base Tuesday while Andruw Monasterio handles the keystone.