MLB Player News

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Franco is being held out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs due to the infielder's left shoulder being "a little dinged up," Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cash said he still expects Franco will be available off the bench Wednesday, so the 22-year-old's absence from the lineup could be more maintenance-related than out of any legitimate concern about the shoulder issue, which he picked up while sliding into home plate in Tuesday's 2-1 loss. The Rays are off Thursday before returning to action in Boston on Friday, when Franco will most likely be back in the lineup at shortstop.

Franco is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

With an off day coming Thursday, Rays manager Kevin Cash likely viewed Wednesday's day game as an optimal time to rest Franco, who had started in each of the last 12 games. Taylor Walls will spell Franco at shortstop in the series finale after Franco extended his hitting streak to seven and also chipped in his 20th stolen base of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 loss.

Volpe went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer in Tuesday's 10-2 win over the Mariners.

Volpe notched his first extra-base hit since May 21 after taking Logan Gilbert deep to left center in the third to put the Yankees up 6-0. The 22-year-old has not had a multi-hit game since May 14 and has now dipped below The Mendoza Line with a .198/.277/.365 slash line to go with eight homers, 24 RBI, 23 runs, 13 steals and a 21:67 BB:K over 220 plate appearances.

Tovar went 3-for-4 with two doubles in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Tovar had himself an excellent night at the plate but didn't have much to show for it, as each one of his hits came with nobody on base. The 21-year-old now has four doubles over his last three games and is tied for the fifth-most doubles in the National League with 15. He's tallied at least one base knock in 10 of his last 11 games, but even after his recent hot stretch, Tovar is slashing just .244/.288/.389 with three homers, 22 RBI, 25 runs and a 9:54 BB:K over 191 plate appearances.

Barrero went 2-for-2 with a walk and a grand slam in Tuesday's 9-8 win over the Red Sox.

The 25-year-old began the game on the bench, but when TJ Friedl (hamstring) checked out early, Barrero took over in center field and gave the Reds what proved to be crucial insurance runs when he drove a Joely Rodriguez sinker off a light standard above the Green Monster in the seventh inning. It's his first career grand slam and only his second homer in 39 games this season, and while Cincy is trying to find ways to keep him in the lineup now that Matt McLain has taken over the starting shortstop role, Barrero and his mediocre .235/.313/.353 slash line could get bumped back to Triple-A when the team finally decides to promote Elly De La Cruz.

Witt went 0-for-4 with one RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Witt got the Royals on the board with a fielder's choice in the ninth inning, and he stole second but was left there to end the game. While he's gone just 1-for-16 over his last four games, he's also managed two steals in that span. The shortstop has gone 11 contests without a walk, striking out 13 times in that span. He's slashing just .228/.266/.430 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 35 runs scored and 17 steals through 55 games. The poor plate discipline has seen him hitting in the heart of the order recently after opening the year as the Royals' leadoff man.

Lindor went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Phillies.

The shortstop took Ranger Suarez deep in the fourth inning, giving Kodai Senga and the Mets bullpen all the offense they would need on the night. Lindor has gone yard three times in the last four games, giving him 10 homers in 55 games, but his slash line remains a disappointing .227/.299/.435.

Edman went 0-for-2 with one run scored and one steal in Tuesday's victory over the Royals.

Though Edman went hitless on the day and is hitless in his last four games, he left his mark in the scorebook during the eighth inning, stealing second base after being walked and eventually coming in to score on a Nolan Gorman sacrifice fly. Edman has provided some versatility for fantasy managers in 2023 with six home runs and eight stolen bases through 54 games while slashing .259/.318/.443.

Adames (concussion) went through a light workout Tuesday in Milwaukee, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

It was the first workout of any kind for Adames since he suffered a concussion when he got struck by a foul ball in the dugout last Friday against the Giants. "He's got to pass some tests," Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters Tuesday evening while declining to offer an exact timetable for the shortstop's return. Adames is first eligible to be activated from the 7-day concussion injured list this coming Saturday.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Tuesday that Mateo is an option to play some center field while Cedric Mullins (groin) is out, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Mateo's defense at shortstop is his best asset right now as he struggles at the plate, so it seems doubtful he'd be used on a regular basis in center field. He does have past experience at the position, although he hasn't played there since 2021.