MLB Player News

Rooker isn't starting Saturday's game against the Yankees.

Rooker saw plenty of playing time in late July and early August, but he'll be held out of the lineup for a third consecutive game. Rob Refsnyder will take over in left field and bat fifth.

Ford was designated for assignment by the Rays on Saturday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Ford had been spending time at Triple-A Durham after he was traded from the Yankees to the Rays in mid-June. He's slashed .243/.346/.529 with 11 home runs, 31 RBI and 22 runs across 40 games with Durham. The 29-year-old will lose his spot on the 40-man roster but will likely remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

Solak is expected to play regularly at second base after being called up Friday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

With Charlie Culberson hitting the injured list Friday with symptoms resembling COVID-19, Solak was called up but did not arrive at Fenway Park in Boston until after the game had started. Texas has been rotating Andy Ibanez and Yonny Hernandez at second base, but there could be starting opportunities at third and first base to accommodate all three players.

Brantley went 1-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 12-3 win over Seattle.

Brantley returned to action after getting a day off Thursday, which presumably was designed to get him out of a hitting funk. The outfielder's fourth-inning single Friday snapped an 0-for-12 skid.

Reyes went 2-for-5 with a home run and five RBI in Friday's 9-1 win over the Angels.

He got the rout started with a three-run shot in the first inning off Jaime Barria. Reyes has gone yard in back-to-back games to snap a 16-game power drought, and on the season he's slashing .253/.318/.536 with 22 homers and 60 RBI through 77 contests.

Choi went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's 7-5 extra-innings loss to the White Sox.

He got the Rays on the board by taking Lucas Giolito deep in the second inning. The homer was Choi's first in August and ninth of the year, but the 31-year-old may be finding a groove again, slashing .304/.385/.478 over his last seven games with seven RBI.

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double, four RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 12-3 win over the Mariners.

Alvarez notched his first RBI early on with a groundout in the opening frame. He did the rest of his damage his next two times up with a two-run shot in the third and an RBI double in the fourth. It was the big lefty's first home run since Aug. 7. He's now slashing .289/.352/.529 with 23 homers, 81 RBI, 71 runs scored, a steal and 33:107 BB:K over 438 plate appearances after Friday's standout effort.

Soler went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 3-0 win over the Orioles.

Soler was hot with three home runs across the first six games in the month of August, but he had cooled off recently, as he had hit just .158 with three doubles, three runs and an RBI across the last 10 contests. However, he rediscovered his power stroke with his 17th home run of the season in Friday's low-scoring contest. The 29-year-old has appeared in 30 games since the All-Star break, and he's hit .236 with 10 homers, 21 runs and 15 RBI during that time.

Buxton (finger) played five innings Friday in center field and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout for Triple-A St. Paul in the first game of a rehabilitation assignment. He will play again possibly Saturday and Sunday depending on how he feels, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

It's not clear how long Buxton will be at Triple-A before he's activated from the injured list. He'll likely play two or three games before the Twins decide on a next course of action, but it's possible he could be activated early next week.

Miller is not starting Friday against the Padres, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Miller will sit for the second day in a row with the Padres sending left-hander Blake Snell to the mound. Alec Bohm draws the start at first base as Rhys Hoskins (groin) remains on the injured list.