MLB Player News

Tovar is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.

Tovar will receive his first night off of the season after slashing .270/.289/.405 with one home run, one stolen base, five RBI and three runs through the Rockies' first nine games. Willi Castro will get the nod at shortstop Monday in Tovar's stead.

Baez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins.

Baez will hit the bench for the fourth time in eight games, with all of his absences coming against right-handed pitching. He appears to have fallen into an indirect timeshare with Zack McKinstry, who has been seeing time in right field and second base while Kevin McGonigle covers shortstop when Baez is out of the lineup. Baez is holding down a lowly .200/.227/.200 slash line over 22 plate appearances to begin the season, and he could see his playing time dwindle further if he's unable to stage a dramatic turnaround.

Winn (hip) is starting at shortstop and batting sixth against the Nationals on Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Winn was initially slated to miss a third consecutive game, but he has made enough progress in his recovery from a left hip injury to be back in action for Monday's contest. With Winn back in the Cardinals' lineup, Thomas Saggese will shift from shortstop to left field while Jose Fermin moves to the bench.

Alexander is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox.

Alexander had been included in the lineup for all three games of the Orioles' weekend series in Pittsburgh, making two starts at third base and one at second base while going 2-for-10 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs. Coby Mayo will cover third base and Jeremiah Jackson will man the keystone Monday, but those two players and Alexander will have to vie for one spot in the Orioles' everyday lineup once Jackson Holliday (hand) returns from the injured list, which could happen later this week.

Schmitt (back) is not in the Giants' starting lineup against the Phillies on Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Schmitt's absence will extend to four games due to a lingering back injury. Rafael Devers will start at first base for Monday's series opener while Jerar Encarnacion serves as the Giants' designated hitter.

The Astros optioned Whitcomb to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

Whitcomb was up with the big club during its weekend series versus the Athletics while Isaac Paredes was away on the bereavement list. With Paredes returning to the active roster ahead of Monday's game in Colorado, Whitcomb will head back to Sugar Land.

Griffin will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Padres.

After smacking an RBI double Friday in his first at-bat in the majors, Griffin proceeded to go 0-for-8 with two walks and a hit by pitch in his subsequent 11 plate appearances to close out the Pirates' weekend series versus the Orioles. The 19-year-old phenom isn't in any danger of losing the everyday shortstop job, but the Pirates will drop him a couple spots in the order Monday with hope of taking some pressure off of him.

Crawford is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers.

After making his return from the injured list Friday, Crawford proceeded to start at shortstop in all three of the Mariners' games against the Angels over the weekend while going 1-for-10 with a double, three walks and a run scored. At least until the Mariners are ready to promote top prospect Colt Emerson (foot) to the big leagues, Crawford should have a fairly firm hold on the everyday shortstop gig, though the veteran will get a breather as Seattle opens its series in Arlington. Leo Rivas will slide over to shortstop Monday after covering third base Saturday and Sunday while Brendan Donovan tended to a groin injury.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Barger (ankles) is "trending in the right direction," but a stint on the injured list has not been ruled out, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Barger exited Sunday's 3-0 loss to the White Sox due to bilateral ankle discomfort. He's absent from Monday's lineup versus the Dodgers, but with southpaw Justin Wrobleski on the mound, it's unlikely the left-handed hitter would have started even if healthy. Tyler Fitzgerald is with the Blue Jays on the taxi squad for now, but he could be recalled to the active roster if Barger is unable to avoid the IL.

Martinez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Martinez had started in either corner-outfield spot in five of the past six games and went just 2-for-14 at the dish during that stretch while chipping in a stolen base and three runs. The switch-hitting Martinez should have a good chance at sticking in the lineup against left-handed pitching on a regular basis, but his window for earning steady at-bats versus righties may have closed after Chase DeLauter was able to quickly move past the left foot injury that kept him out of the starting nine for just one game.