MLB Player News

Kessinger is starting at second base and batting leadoff Saturday versus Oakland.

Kessinger has made a nice impression in limited action since being called up by the Astros in early June, boasting an .890 OPS through his first 24 major-league plate appearances. Mauricio Dubon is on the bench Saturday and Jose Altuve (oblique) is likely to be on the injured list for another week.

Neto was scratched from the lineup Saturday against the Pirates due to lower-back tightness, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

It sounds like a day-to-day type of issue for Neto, who slugged a solo homer in the Angels' defeat of Pittsburgh on Friday. The 22-year-old shortstop is batting .252/.328/.432 with eight home runs and five stolen bases through his first 62 major-league games.

Seager was placed on the injured list Saturday with a sprained right thumb.

Seager is having an excellent season at the plate, with his .350/.413/.631 slash line representing career highs in all three categories. He hasn't been able to escape the injury bug that has nagged him throughout his career, however, as he's now on his second trip to the injured list of the year, having missed a month with a hamstring strain early in the year. The good news is that Seager himself believes this absence won't last more than two weeks, per Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com, as he's avoided structural damage. Ezequiel Duran is expected to be the primary shortstop until Seager returns.

Velazquez hasn't started a game since prior to the All-Star break, though he's gotten into seven second-half contests as a pinch runner and/or defensive replacement.

Velazquez was starting at shortstop fairly frequently in the week leading up to the break, but that opportunity dried up when Zach Neto returned from the injured list. Velazquez has subsequently served exclusively in a reserve role, primarily as a pinch runner. Though he's seen action in seven games since the start of the second half, he's logged only three plate appearances, going 0-for-2 with a walk. The Angels have been taking advantage of his speed, however, as Velazquez has tallied three stolen bases in three attempts during the seven-game span. Given his career .192/.247/.290 slash line, it's not a surprise that Velazquez hasn't been able to nail down a starting role.

Seager (thumb) is expected to need a stint on the injured list, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

X-rays came back clean on Seager's right thumb after he injured it on a slide into second base Friday versus the Dodgers. However, he's undergoing an MRI on Saturday and more will be known once those results are in. The feeling seems to be that he is going to have to miss some time. Ezequiel Duran is getting a start at shortstop Saturday and figures to see the bulk of the action there while Seager is sidelined.

Perdomo will sit Saturday against Cincinnati, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.

The switch-hitting shortstop has broke out to the tune of a .278/.385/.408 slash line (good for a 119 wRC+) this season, but the Diamondbacks have been hesitant to use him against lefties like Saturday's starter Brandon Williamson. Perdomo has started only three times against a southpaw all season, and he'll again turn the reins over to Nick Ahmed at shortstop Saturday.

Seager (thumb) is not in the lineup for Saturday's game versus the Dodgers, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

On a more positive note, Seager is listed on the Rangers' lineup card among the reserves, so it appears he is avoiding the injured list for the time being. Seager suffered a right thumb sprain on a slide into second base in Friday's loss to the Dodgers. Ezequiel Duran will play shortstop Saturday.

De La Cruz will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.

De La Cruz sits for just the second time since being called up in early June. He's been stuck in a slump since the break, going 2-for-31 with 15 strikeouts and dropping his OPS from .887 to .757. The arrival of Christian Encarnacion-Strand crowds the Reds' roster, and the team is in the thick of a playoff race, so De La Cruz will need to keep performing to remain in an everyday role down the stretch.

Swanson (heel) was activated off the 10-day injured list Saturday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Swanson hasn't played in a little over two weeks after bruising his heel in early July, but he's ready to go without a rehab assignment. The shortstop has had a fine first season in Chicago, slashing .258/.343/.409, though his four steals in 83 games are a disappointment from a fantasy perspective after he swiped a career-high 18 bags last season. It remains to be seen if the heel issue will have any lingering effects on his willingness to take off on the bases. Jared Young was optioned to clear space for Swanson's return.

McLain went 2-for-4 with a walk, a grand slam, a second run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 9-6 win over the Diamondbacks.

The rookie shortstop supplied the biggest blow on the night, driving a 100.9 mph fastball from Justin Martinez over the right-field fence in the fifth inning for McLain's first career grand slam. It's his ninth homer of the season and second in his last four games, and through his first 57 big-league contests he's slashing an impressive .301/.367/.519 with eight steals, 34 RBI and 44 runs.