MLB Player News

Harper was removed from Tuesday's game against the Dodgers with lower-back tightness, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The 28-year-old had the injury crop up on a swing during his fourth-inning strikeout, and he didn't take the field for the bottom of the frame. Harper dealt with the same injury in mid-April and only missed one game, though the severity of the issue this time around remains unclear.

Harper was removed from Tuesday's game against the Dodgers with an apparent injury, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper struck out to open the fourth inning and was replaced in right field for the bottom of the frame. The specifics of the injury remain unclear, though it could be a back or side issue, as he appeared to suffer the injury during a swing.

Manager Gabe Kapler said Tuesday that there was previous optimism that Ruf (hamstring) would be able to return Thursday or Friday, but he may need a few additional days before being activated from the 10-day injured list, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Ruf has been out since suffering a strained right hamstring May 26. He ran the bases Monday and was hoping to be activated toward the end of the week. It still seems possible that he'll be reinstated at some point during the weekend series against the Phillies, though next Tuesday's series opener against the Angels might be a more likely return date at this point.

Torrens is batting eighth as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Twins.

Torrens was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, and he'll get his first shot to rejoin the Mariners' lineup Tuesday against southpaw J.A. Happ. The 25-year-old backstop struggled in his initial opportunity with Seattle this season, slashing .178/.219/.300 across 96 plate appearances before being demoted May 20.

Choi is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the White Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Choi returned from a groin injury Monday, going 0-for-2 with a pair of walks. He won't be asked to start two games in a row right away, though he likely would have found himself on the bench regardless of the injury given the matchup against southpaw Dallas Keuchel. Yandy Diaz will handle first base in his absence.

Ramirez is on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Ramirez receives a day off in the midst of a nine-game stretch in which he's hit .333 with a homer, seven RBI and just two strikeouts. Although he's appeared in only 36 games this season, the 26-year-old and his .270 average have been a bright spot in a dismal Cleveland offense. Josh Naylor will start in right field Tuesday.

Winker is on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

The 27-year-old receives a day off after seven consecutive days in the lineup. Winker hasn't gone deep since his three-homer outburst June 6, but he has seven hits and four RBI in 25 at-bats as well as six walks in that seven-game span. Aristides Aquino gets the start in left field Tuesday.

Choi (groin), activated from the injured list earlier in the day, went 0-for-2 with two walks in a win over the White Sox on Monday.

The returning infielder started and played the full game at first base. Now that he's back in the fold, Choi will look to build on an already impressive .292/.452/..500 slash line that includes six extra-base hits (four doubles, two home runs) and 11 RBI across just 62 plate appearances.

Buxton wasn't activated from the injured list Monday due to "residual soreness" in his hip, manager Rocco Baldelli told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Buxton flew to Seattle with the Twins and will go through a workout Tuesday.

Baldelli said Buxton refrained from running at full speed during his three-game rehab stint with Triple-A St. Paul, where he was 5-for-9 with two home runs. It sounds like he could be activated in the next day or two, but the Twins may play it safe with his return.

Cabrera went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Royals.

Cabrera is enduring a rough year in 2021 but has been seeing the ball better of late. Aside from posting his second three-hit performance of the campaign, it's worth noting Cabrera has hit safely in all but one of Detroit's last nine games, though he only has two multi-hit performances in that span. The veteran slugger is only hitting .210 on the season, but that figure increases to .297 when taking into account only his last nine contests.