MLB Player News

Yelich went 2-for-3 with two home runs, four RBI, three runs scored and a walk in Thursday's 8-5 win over the Pirates.

Thursday marked the 11th career multi-homer game for Yelich, who matched a season high in RBI. The veteran outfielder has struggled mightily at the plate overall this season, and he's batting just .136 with four big flies, seven RBI and 10 runs scored over his last 81 at-bats. Yelich has made just six appearances in the outfield this year, which should help keep the slugger healthy, and his strong 47.6 percent hard-hit rate on the campaign offers cause for optimism. However, he's currently being dragged down by a 63 percent groundball rate, which is the highest in the league among qualified batters by over five percentage points.

Ozuna went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk, two total RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-7 extra-inning loss to Washington.

Ozuna went back-to-back with Matt Olson in the first inning. This was Ozuna's third homer in the last four games, a span in which he's gone 7-for-15 (.467) with six RBI and a 4:4 BB:K. The designated hitter struggled for power in late April and early May with a 14-game homerless stretch, but he seems to have bounced back. He's now batting. 278 with a .913 OPS, nine homers, 24 RBI, 24 runs scored, six doubles and no stolen bases across 46 contests.

Rooker went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a double in Thursday's 10-5 loss to the Angels.

Rooker opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run, 440-foot blast off Tyler Anderson, his 11th homer of the year. It's the first long ball in 10 games for Rooker, who'd gone just 6-for-38 (.158) in that span. He's now slashing .245/.313/.456 with 25 RBI, 31 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases across 224 plate appearances this year.

Sheets went 3-for-5 with two home runs and drove five RBI during Thursday's 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays in 11 innings.

Sheets put the team on his back Thursday and nearly led the Padres to a win by knocking in five of the team's six runs, including a game-tying, two-run home run in the top of the ninth to push the game to extras. The 29-year-old has shown a penchant for getting RBIs in bunches, with Thursday being his fourth game of three or more RBI, accounting for 16 of his 28 on the season. The fifth-year big-leaguer is well on his way to shattering his previous career high of 53 RBI, which he set in 2022.

The Red Sox transferred Yoshida (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Yoshida has been on the injured list all season while working his way back from a right shoulder procedure he underwent in October. He restarted his throwing program earlier this week and is still likely several weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment, so his move to the 60-day IL doesn't impact his return timeline. It does, however, open up a spot on Boston's 40-man roster for Ryan Noda, who was acquired from the Angels on Thursday.

The Twins optioned Gasper to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.

Gasper was up for one day as the 27th man during Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Guardians, and he did not make an appearance. The utility player has slashed only .176/.282/.206 during his time in the majors this season.

Rice is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Rangers.

Although he had started the previous two games, Rice has seen his playing time dip recently, as this is his fifth time absent from the lineup across the last 11 tilts. Aaron Judge is in the designated-hitter spot Thursday, and the Yankees will roll out Jasson Dominguez, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger in the outfield.

Heineman will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Padres.

With a .949 OPS to go with two stolen bases over 47 plate appearances on the season, Heineman has made the most of his limited opportunities, but he's still unlikely to see a dramatic surge in playing time in the near future. Alejandro Kirk is locked in as the Blue Jays' clear No. 1 backstop and should require just one or two days off per week, with most of his absences from the lineup coming in day games after night games.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.

With the Yankees sending a left-handed starter (Carlos Rodon) to the hill for the second straight day, the left-handed-hitting Pederson will once again remain out of the lineup. Despite facing right-handers in all but nine of his plate appearances on the season, Pederson is still batting just .127, the lowest average among all players in the majors with at least 140 plate appearances. Pederson has struck out at a palatable 19.9 percent clip and has been the victim of a .148 BABIP, so expect the 33-year-old's production to eventually pick up once his batted-ball luck improves.

Santander (hip) is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Padres.

Santander was lifted from Wednesday's 14-0 win after aggravating a left hip injury. The Blue Jays haven't indicated at this point whether Santander might require a trip to the 10-day injured list, but he will need at least a day or two of rest. Daulton Varsho will get a day in the designated-hitter spot, while Myles Straw will patrol center field for the Blue Jays in Thursday's series finale.