MLB Player News

Harper (foot) is starting Thursday's game against Atlanta.

Harper fouled a ball off his foot Wednesday against the Yankees but was able to remain in the game afterward. He underwent X-rays that apparently came back negative, and he'll start in right field and bat third Thursday.

Mercedes remains on the active roster at Triple-A Charlotte and is in uniform for Thursday's game, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Mercedes appeared to announce his retirement in an Instagram post Wednesday, but he'll ultimately remain with the Triple-A club going forward. The 28-year-old has slashed .298/.365/.632 with four homers, 12 runs and 10 RBI across 15 games in the minors this year.

Choi isn't starting Thursday's game against Cleveland, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Choi had started each of the last three games and went 3-for-11 with an RBI, a walk and four strikeouts. Austin Meadows will serve as the designated hitter and bat fourth.

Cabrera is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

With Detroit and Texas wrapping up their series with a day game, Cabrera will get a veteran's day off before likely rejoining the lineup Friday in Kansas City. Cabrera has gone 4-for-23 (.174 average) through the Tigers' first six games of the second half, but he's at least helped out fantasy managers by driving in seven runs over that stretch.

Torrens went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Rockies.

The M's only managed five hits on the afternoon against Austin Gomber and the Colorado bullpen, but three of them were solo shots. Torrens' bat has kept him in the lineup even after the promotion of catching prospect Cal Raleigh -- he got the start at first base Wednesday, the first time Torrens has played the position in his big-league career, and through 13 games in July the 25-year-old is slashing .300/.429/.650 with four of his 11 homers on the year.

Soler went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Brewers.

He wrapped up the scoring on the day with an eighth-inning blast off Angel Perdomo. Soler has yet to record a multi-hit performance in July and his batting average remains a woeful .186 on the season. However, his power stroke seems to be returning, as the 29-year-old has gone yard in back-to-back games, and three of his nine homers on the year have come in the last seven contests.

Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two total runs in a 7-4 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

The veteran crossed the plate after doubling in the sixth inning and went deep to right field for a solo homer in the eighth. He has now reached base seven times in nine plate appearances over his past two games and is batting a robust .305 on the campaign while racking up 20 homers, 26 doubles and 64 RBI.

Harper will have an X-ray after fouling a ball off his foot Wednesday against the Yankees, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The outfielder didn't exit the game, but he was in visible pain after a foul tip hit the top of his foot. Details about the X-ray results and Harper's status going forward should become available Thursday.

Mercedes announced his retirement in an Instagram post Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Mercedes hit .309 with four home runs and 10 RBI after being optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on July 2. Chances of the 28-year-old rookie getting recalled by the White Sox this season were slim, especially with the looming returns of Eloy Jimenez (pectoral) and Luis Robert (hip). If this is indeed the end of Mercedes' MLB career, he retires with a .270 average and seven home runs in 241 at-bats, all but one of which came in 2021.

Dickerson is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Dickerson went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer during Tuesday's contest, but he'll take a seat Wednesday with lefty Julio Urias pitching for Los Angeles. LaMonte Wade will shift to left field while Darin Ruf starts at first base.