MLB Player News

Manager Kevin Cash said Thursday that Choi is "not quite ready" to return from the 10-day injured list while he continues to manage soreness in his surgically repaired right knee, but the Rays remain hopeful that he won't require another rehab stint at Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

After being pulled off his rehab assignment Wednesday, Choi rejoined the Rays to receive further treatment. While Choi was able to take part in batting practice Thursday, the Rays will continue to evaluate him on a day-to-day basis before the team determines his next step. Choi should factor into the mix at first base or designated hitter whenever he's ultimately activated.

Belt (side) is starting Thursday's game against the Pirates, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Belt was removed from Tuesday's game due to mild left side tightness, but he's starting at first base and batting fourth in Thursday's series opener. The 33-year-old has gone 4-for-11 with two home runs, four runs and three RBI across the last four games.

Mercedes isn't starting Thursday's game against Minnesota.

Mercedes had recorded hits in each of the last five games and went 7-for-21 with a triple, a double, five RBI and three runs during that time. Jose Abreu will serve as the designated hitter while Jake Lamb starts at first base.

Harper went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-2 extra-inning win over the Nationals.

The 28-year-old continued to torment his former club, going 4-for-8 over the first two games of this series. On the season, Harper is hitting .308 through 29 games with seven homers, three steals, 11 RBI and 24 runs.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in the Astros' 9-1 win over the Angels on Wednesday.

Alvarez homered off Patrick Sandoval in the eighth inning Wednesday. The 24-year-old continues his scorching hot start to 2021, slashing .347/.378/.619 through 127 plate appearances. He leads the Astros in OPS with .997 and has seven home runs, 22 RBI and 24 runs scored. The slugger has at least two hits in 14 of his 29 starts.

Cabrera went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's win over the Royals.

This was Cabrera's third two-hit effort across his past four games, but it's still been a struggle for the veteran this season, as he's batting just .160 even after the good performance Wednesday. Perhaps he can build on the recent good results, though fantasy managers should temper their expectations the rest of the way.

Buxton (hip) has been cleared to throw and is expected to begin hitting in the batting cage Thursday or Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The 27-year-old was ruled out multiple weeks after landing on the injured list with a Grade 2 hip strain Friday, so it's good to see him working his way back into baseball activities. Buxton can safely be considered out indefinitely until he progresses further into his rehab work.

Torrens is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Torrens went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Tuesday and will head to the bench for Wednesday's contest. Tom Murphy will start behind the plate and bat sixth for the Mariners.

Pederson went 3-for-5 with an RBI double in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to Cleveland.

Pederson hit an RBI double in the fifth inning, but that was the extent of the Cubs' run-scoring offense Wednesday. The 29-year-old Pederson has been on a tear lately, going 12-for-25 (.480) with five RBI and three runs scored in his last six games. The surge has lifted his season slash line to .244/.337/.321 with one home run, nine RBI and eight runs scored in 92 plate appearances.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Choi wasn't activated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday after experiencing a "little bit" of renewed soreness in his surgically repaired right knee, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi was lifted from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham to receive a re-evaluation and further treatment in Tampa Bay, but Cash noted that the 29-year-old isn't believed to be dealing with any sort of setback. That said, the next steps for Choi remain unclear, as the Rays will likely wait and see how he responds to treatment before determining whether he'll be an option during the team's upcoming series with the Mets this weekend.