MLB Player News

Baez (back) is not currently slated to be placed on the injured list, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Baez isn't starting Sunday against the Dodgers after being removed early from Saturday's contest due to a lower-back injury. He's available only in an emergency situation Sunday, per Jason Beck of MLB.com. However, manager A.J. Hinch described Baez's outlook as "encouraging" and said that the veteran infielder is in better spirits, and it appears that he may be good to go when play resumes Friday following the All-Star break.

Baez (back) isn't in Sunday's starling lineup versus the Dodgers, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Baez was lifted early from Saturday's extra-inning win due to a lower-back injury, and he won't start Sunday's final game before the All-Star break. In his place, Zach McKinstry is starting at shortstop and batting seventh. If Baez doesn't enter off the bench Sunday, he'll have until Detroit's next game -- July 19 in Toronto -- to recover.

Tovar went 2-for-4 with a double Saturday against the Mets.

Tovar began July with seven consecutive hitless starts, though he now has a five-game hitting streak. His production has been largely empty, as across his last five games he has gone 8-for-21 with three extra-base hits, one RBI and two runs scored. Even with the slower production of late, Tovar has had a solid season, showing improvement in his OPS, ISO and batting average relative to 2023.

Winn went 4-for-9 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI across both games of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the Cubs.

Hitting leadoff in both contests, Winn banged out two hits in each and wrapped his day with a solo shot off Javier Assad on the third pitch he saw in the nightcap. Winn is having a strong start to July, slashing .300/.364/.400 through 12 games with two doubles, a homer, a steal, five RBI and 10 runs.

Lindor went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run, a stolen base and two walks Saturday in a 7-3 win against Colorado.

New York was hanging onto a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when Lindor slugged a 420-foot, three-run home run to center field. The long ball was his fourth through 13 games in June and his 17th overall this season. Lindor also swiped his 18th bag of the campaign in the contest, and he's one of seven major leaguers with at least 15 homers and 15 thefts so far in 2024.

Cruz went 0-for-4 with two RBI on Saturday against the White Sox.

Cruz went hitless but drove in a pair of runs on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly. Across his last 29 games, Cruz has 23 RBI --- over half of his total for the season. In that same span, he's also maintained a .260 average with seven home runs and three stolen bases.

The Twins are expected to call up Castillo from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Minnesota is currently dealing with several injuries in the infield and Castillo is expected to take the 26-man roster spot of the IL-bound Jose Miranda (back). Castillo logged just one big-league at-bat last season and is slashing .269/.375/.399 with five homers and seven stolen bases across 283 games with St. Paul. The 26-year-old should see work at third base and could mix in at second base and shortstop if needed. The Twins will need to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Castillo.

De La Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's win over the Marlins.

The Reds teed off on Edward Cabrera and the Miami bullpen for six combined homers, and De La Cruz got in on the fun with a long ball to the batter's eye in the third inning. De La Cruz has been managing a hand issue recently, but it hasn't cost him playing time -- his absence Thursday was said to be unrelated -- nor has it affected his performance. De La Cruz is a first-time All-Star and he's been a top-10 fantasy player so far this season on account of his .255/.345/.476 slash line, 16 homers, 41 RBI, 63 runs and 46 steals through 95 games.

Abrams went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-5 win at Milwaukee.

The 23-year-old entered the contest in a 1-for-19 slump and started off 0-for-4 on Saturday, but he erased a one-run deficit in the ninth inning with a two-run homer off Brewers closer Trevor Megill. Abrams is batting just .183 through 13 games in July, but he still has a .269/.344/.486 slash line for the season to go along with 15 home runs, 48 RBI and 15 steals.

Bichette (calf) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Bichette will be held out of the lineup for a third consecutive game due to a strained right calf. Leo Jimenez will bat ninth and play shortstop. Sunday will be Bichette's final chance to re-enter the starting lineup before the All-Star break.