MLB Player News

Mercedes will start in left field and bat third in Sunday's game against the Padres, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Mercedes will pick up his fifth start in nine games since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento a week ago. He'll likely see regular work versus left-handed pitching, but Mercedes' opportunities to play against right-handers should dwindle once Brandon Belt (knee) is cleared to rejoin the lineup and when Tommy La Stella (illness) is activated from the COVID-19-related injured list.

Belt (knee) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Belt, who already spent time on the injured list earlier this season with right knee inflammation, is dealing with renewed tenderness in his knee. He'll be on the bench for the second game in a row, but the Giants remain hopeful that his injury isn't anything that will keep him out through the All-Star break. Even if the knee issue hadn't cropped up in Saturday's 3-1 win, the lefty-hitting Belt may have been due to receive Sunday's game off anyway with southpaw MacKenzie Gore taking the hill for San Diego.

The Astros placed Alvarez on the 10-day injured list Sunday with right hand inflammation.

Alvarez missed some time with a right hand injury in mid-June and quickly returned to the lineup, but the issue has apparently worsened over the past few weeks. The 25-year-old's move to the IL on Sunday means he will be eligible to return coming out of the All-Star break July 21, though it remains to be seen if he's healthy enough to be reinstated at that point. Aledmys Diaz is the most likely candidate to see increased playing time during Alvarez's absence.

Alvarez is out of the lineup Sunday against Oakland and headed back to Houston since his previously injured right hand is bothering him again, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez won't just miss Sunday's game, but also the next three games in Anaheim against the Angels. The Astros hope to have Alvarez back later in the week against the Athletics, but keep in mind that the All-Star break is immediately after that series, so there's a risk of him missing the entire week.

Miller will start in left field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Twins.

Though he'll be manning left field in the series finale, Miller could take over as the Rangers' primary designated hitter beginning with Monday's game against the Athletics. Mitch Garver (forearm) is in the lineup Sunday but is slated to undergo season-ending surgery Monday, leaving the DH role available for the taking. The lefty-hitting Miller could end up filling the large-side of a platoon at DH, with the Rangers then rotating a number of righty-hitting players at that spot versus left-handed pitching.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Oakland.

Alvarez started the past eight games after missing two contests with a head injury, and he'll take Sunday off after posting a .964 OPS with three doubles, three home runs, four RBI and eight runs during that stretch. Aledmys Diaz will serve as Houston's designated hitter in the series finale.

Ramirez went 3-for-5 with three doubles and three RBI in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Reds.

Ramirez has now produced five multi-hit games over his last eight starts to improve his season-long batting line to .321/.369/.447 across 236 plate appearances. The 27-year-old had already recently moved into a full-time role against both right- and left-handed pitching, and his hot run at the plate in addition to Kevin Kiermaier (hip) and Wander Franco (wrist) landing on the injured list Sunday should further solidify Ramirez as an everyday player. Ramirez will serve as the Rays' designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Sunday's series finale, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

Choi is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi started the past three games and went 2-for-9 with two RBI, a run and five walks, but he'll take a seat Sunday with lefty Nick Lodolo pitching for Cincinnati. Harold Ramirez will serve as the designated hitter while Isaac Paredes starts at first base.

Jimenez (general soreness) is starting in left field and batting sixth Sunday versus the Tigers.

Jimenez was held out of Saturday's contest due to some general soreness, but he'll rejoin the starting nine after missing only one game. In three games since being activated from the injured list July 6 after missing over two months due to hamstring surgery, the 25-year-old has gone 3-for-13 with a home run, four RBI, two runs and five strikeouts.

Belt exited Saturday's game against the Padres with knee tenderness, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Belt exited after sprinting down the first base line on an infield single. The exit was seemingly precautionary, as manager Gabe Kapler told reporters after the game that he hopes Belt will be in Sunday's lineup.