MLB Player News

Ruf is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Ruf went 3-for-16 over his past seven contests and will head to the bench for Wednesday's series finale in Arizona. Yermin Mercedes will bat third as the designated hitter.

Madris is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.

The 26-year-old finds himself on the bench for the second straight contest after Ben Gamel (hamstring) was activated from the injured list Tuesday. Madris is 3-for-20 with a double, a stolen base and nine strikeouts in his past five contests.

Miller will start in left field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

Miller will get his fourth start in five games, with most of his increased opportunities coming at the expense of Leody Taveras, who has started just twice during that stretch. Since Miller bats from the left side while Taveras switch hits, manager Chris Woodward could consider using the players in a soft platoon. Both will stay in the lineup against a right-hander (Spenser Watkins) on Wednesday, however, as it's everyday outfielder Adolis Garcia that finds himself on the bench in what's likely just a maintenance day.

Hummel is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.

Hummel went 4-for-15 with a triple, a walk, four runs, an RBI and two stolen bases while starting in each of the past four games, but three of those starts came against left-handed pitching. With righty Alex Cobb on the hill for San Francisco on Wednesday, the switch-hitting Hummel will head to the bench for the series finale. He looks as though he'll be stuck in a short-side platoon role while all of David Peralta, Alek Thomas, Daulton Varsho and Ketel Marte are healthy and available.

Canha isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Reds.

Canha started in the last two games and went 3-for-7 with a double, two runs, a walk and a strikeout. Jeff McNeil is shifting to left field while Dominic Smith serves as the designated hitter Wednesday.

Ramirez isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Ramirez has logged regular playing time for the Rays recently and has slashed .350/.409/.500 with a homer, three doubles, eight runs, five RBI and a stolen base over his last 10 games. He'll get a breather Wednesday while Josh Lowe starts in right field and leads off.

McCutchen isn't starting Wednesday against the Cubs.

McCutchen is getting a day off after he went 0-for-12 with a walk and three strikeouts over the last three games. Christian Yelich will serve as the designated hitter while Keston Hiura draws the start in left field.

Jimenez (hamstring) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Jimenez concluded his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, but the White Sox waited an additional day before activating him. He's starting in left field and batting sixth during Wednesday's series finale against the Twins, but it's possible that the team gives him some additional looks as the designated hitter in the near future following his lengthy absence. Regardless of his position, the 25-year-old should see plenty of playing time. Over 11 games prior to sustaining his hamstring injury, he slashed .222/.256/.333 with a homer, seven RBI and two runs.

Harper (thumb) said Tuesday that he intends to play again this season, but he was unwilling to commit to a timeline for his return from the 10-day injured list, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. "I don't want to hope or think about anything," Harper said. "I just want to go day by day and be back when I can, whenever I feel healthy, whenever that is, to help this team win. If we're in [playoff contention], if we're out of it, I'm going to come back and play no matter what, just so I know that I can go out there and play the game."

A late-season return already was expected to be in play for Harper after he underwent surgery last week and had three pins inserted into his fractured left thumb, but the 29-year-old's reluctance to commit to a target date for his return to game action could make it tougher for fantasy managers to continue stashing him during his prolonged absence. Shortly before he had surgery, multiple reports suggested Harper could be ready to play as soon as mid-August, but the reigning MVP merely said that he'll "be back when I need to" when pressed about a potential timeline for a return. Since Harper landed on the IL, Darick Hall has been summoned from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace him as Philadelphia's primary designated hitter.

Encarnacion-Strand has been activated from the injured list at High-A Cedar Rapids after missing five games due to a concussion.

Encarnacion-Strand is hitting .294/.361/.580 with 17 home runs at Cedar Rapids. Luckily it sounds like his injury won't derail his breakout season.