MLB Player News

Walls (fingers) will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Tuesday's game versus the Rangers.

Walls missed four games with two hyperextended fingers on his left hand, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Tuesday's series opener. The slick-fielding, light-hitting shortstop is slashing just .223/.313/.296 with zero home runs and 15 stolen bases for the Rays this season.

Seager (back) is beginning a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Tuesday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

The veteran shortstop progressed to "higher-volume" live batting practice the past few days, clearing the way for him to see his first game action in nearly a month due to back inflammation. Seager may not need much action in the minors before rejoining the Rangers, so he could be back from the injured list before the end of the week.

Manager A.J. Hinch said that he expects Baez (ankle) to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

The 33-year-old has been sidelined due to an ankle sprain since late April, but he's ready to rejoin the Tigers after a four-game rehab assignment, during which he went 6-for-12 with three doubles. Baez had a .256/.280/.397 slash line through 24 games prior to the injury. He made starts at center field and shortstop during the rehab stint, which provides an indication of where he'll be spending most of his time on the big-league club.

Monasterio went 1-for-3 with a walk and a double in Monday's 4-2 win over the Athletics.

Monasterio started a fifth consecutive game at shortstop and extended a hit streak to nine contests, during which he's 12-for-26 (.462) with six walks, six doubles, one triple, one home run, five RBI and five runs scored. Even before the Red Sox optioned Tsung-Che Cheng back to the minors over the weekend, Monasterio had taken hold of the shortstop spot. It should be his until Trevor Story (sports hernia) is ready to return at some point in August.

Duran went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during Monday's 7-3 win over Seattle.

Duran opened the third inning with a solo blast off George Kirby to extend the Rangers' lead to 5-2. Duran has homered in back-to-back games and is up to 12 long balls on the season, which is two off from matching his career best that he set in 2023. He's on a seven-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 10-for-27 (.370) with six RBI and six extra-base hits.

Gimenez is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Nationals.

The Nationals are going with a lefty bulk reliever in Andrew Alvarez, so the lefty-swinging Gimenez will begin the contest on the bench. Ernie Clement will slide over to shortstop, and Luis Urias is getting a start at second base.

Montgomery (shin) will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup in Monday's tilt against the Yankees.

Montgomery exited Saturday's game versus the Astros after fouling a ball off his right shin and then sat out Sunday's contest. He's ready to roll now for the series opener against the Bronx Bombers.

Gimenez went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's loss to the Red Sox.

The shortstop spoiled Boston's combined shutout bid with an RBI single in the ninth inning. Gimenez's steal was his 12th of the year, marking the fifth straight season he's reached that total, and after going 1-for-15 in seven games coming out of the All-Star break, he's racked up five hits in the last two contests. On the season, he's managed a meager .234/.275/.359 slash line with seven homers, 26 runs and 40 RBI in 100 games, but his 10 Outs Above Average is tied for third among all full-time shortstops in the majors, behind the Royals' Bobby Witt (18) and the Guardians' Brayan Rocchio (12).

Duran went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Mariners.

Duran plated a run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning before launching a 420-foot solo homer to left field in the eighth inning, though the Rangers were unable to muster a late-game comeback. The club has shifted the 27-year-old around the diamond defensively as needed, and his offensive production has remained consistent. In 96 games, Duran is slashing .271/.322/.447 with 11 homers, 55 RBI, 46 runs and seven stolen bases.

Pena went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 12-3 loss against the White Sox.

Pena wasted no time making an impact, leading off the game with a solo homer against Erick Fedde before taking the right-hander deep again in the third inning. The shortstop has caught fire of late, homering five times over his last six games after hitting just six long balls through his first 53 contests of the season. During that six-game stretch, Pena is batting 13-for-26 (.500) with eight RBI. For the season, he's slashing .319/.373/.504 with nine doubles, 11 home runs, 30 RBI, 47 runs scored and eight stolen bases across 249 plate appearances.