MLB Player News

Neto is not in the starting lineup Thursday night against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Neto will get a breather after he went 2-for-12 with a double, an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases over the first three games of the series against Texas. Denzer Guzman will draw the start at shortstop and bat sixth in the series finale versus the Rangers.

The Mariners optioned Emerson to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Emerson hasn't quite lived up to the expectations that come with being a top prospect since arriving in the majors in May, slashing just .190/.246/.335 across 241 plate appearances while striking out at a 34.4 percent clip. The Mariners will now send him back to Tacoma in an effort to help him rediscover his swing, leaving Leo Rivas as the favorite to start at shortstop until J.P. Crawford (wrist) returns from the injured list.

The Rays optioned Williams to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.

Williams will lose his place with the big club after the Rays signed Jorge Mateo to a major-league deal Thursday. Williams owns a .710 OPS across 358 plate appearances in the minors this year but has been overmatched by big-league pitching, slashing just .108/.154/.216 over 16 games with the Rays.

Emerson is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Yankees.

Emerson wore the golden sombrero in Wednesday's loss to the Yankees and is 0-for-14 with nine strikeouts over his last four games. With lefty Max Fried on the hill Thursday, the lefty-swinging Emerson will get a day to regroup. Leo Rivas is handling shortstop for Seattle.

Seager went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Angels.

Seager accounted for both of the Rangers' extra-base hits and nearly half of their seven knocks overall. The shortstop has three multi-hit efforts over 11 games since returning from a back injury, batting .293 (12-for-41) in that span. On the year, he's hitting .202 with a .695 OPS, 12 homers, 29 RBI, 34 runs scored, eight doubles and a stolen base over 62 contests.

Mateo signed a major-league contract with the Rays on Wednesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Mateo was cut by Atlanta over the weekend after clearing waivers, but he'll now receive a new opportunity to carve out a role for himself with the Rays. The 31-year-old has slashed .240/.285/.380 across 137 plate appearances this season and figures to bolster the team's infield depth while Ben Williamson (hamstring) is on the injured list.

Double-A Frisco reinstated Walcott (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Wednesday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Walcott landed on the IL on Aug. 2 after he was struck in the head by a pickoff throw a day earlier, but he's since passed all concussion tests and has received the green light to return to action at Frisco. The 20-year-old prospect has performed well since making his season debut at Frisco on July 17, slashing .308/.357/.577 with three home runs and three steals through 56 plate appearances. He's thus far been limited to serving as a designated hitter after undergoing internal brace surgery on his throwing elbow back in February.

Wilson is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Rays.

Wilson appears to be getting a routine day off after producing a weak .545 OPS so far through eight games in August. With Wilson sitting, Donovan Walton will cover shortstop, and Zack Gelof will handle second base as the Athletics look to avoid the series sweep.

Culpepper is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Orioles.

It's a routine day off for the rookie after he started the first two games of the series. Ryan Kreidler will step in at shortstop in Culpepper's stead.

McGonigle went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and three RBI in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Guardians.

The 21-year-old infielder put the Tigers in the lead for good with his two-run double in the fifth inning. McGonigle has hit safely in five straight games, going 9-for-22 (.409), and since the All-Star break the AL Rookie of the Year favorite has compiled a .308/.387/.473 slash line with four homers, 14 RBI and 19 runs in 22 contests.