MLB Player News

Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Hader will seek a second opinion on his left shoulder strain and will be sidelined "a little bit longer than the two weeks," Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Espada would not reveal what the first diagnosis was, but the injury is at least bad enough that Hader will not be back when his 15 days on the injured list are up. More information on Hader's condition and timeline should be available after he gets the second opinion. Espada has said he will not name a closer while Hader is out, but Bryan Abreu is the favorite to see most of the ninth-inning work for the Astros.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Springer has cleared concussion protocol and will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Springer has taken longer than expected to clear the protocol, but he's finally ready for game action after landing on the 7-day concussion injured list Aug. 1. He could be activated as soon as Friday after serving as Buffalo's designated hitter Thursday, although Schneider left open the possibility that Springer might need an additional rehab game so he can play the outfield. Either way, the 35-year-old should be back on the Blue Jays' active roster at some point this weekend versus the Rangers.

Eflin will undergo back surgery Monday and is expected to be sidelined 4-to-8 months, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Eflin had already been ruled out for the season after it was revealed he would need lumbar microdiscectomy surgery, and now there's a firmer timetable for the right-hander's recovery. The 31-year-old is hopeful the operation will allow him to put his nagging back issues -- which he revealed Wednesday have been a problem off and on for the past 5-to-6 years -- behind him, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com. An impending free agent, Eflin hopes to be ready for the start of spring training, but it's not a given.

Roden (thumb) will start in left field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Yankees.

Roden was not in the batting order for either of the first two games of the series due a jammed thumb, but he entered Tuesday's contest off the bench and is well enough to return to the lineup for the finale. The former Blue Jay is 5-for-30 with one home run in his first 10 games with the Twins.

Dominguez is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Twins.

Dominguez didn't start any of the three games of the series, marking the first time all season he's been out of the lineup for three consecutive contests. Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton will again start in the corner outfield as the Yankees go for the sweep.

Goldschmidt is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Twins.

Goldschmidt had started both of the first two games of the series, but his playing time versus right-handers has been trending down in the second half. The Yankees will turn to Ben Rice at first base and Austin Wells at catcher in the series finale against Minnesota.

Correa is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Red Sox.

It's the first day off for Correa since he was traded back to the Astros at the deadline. Houston will have Ramon Urias at third base and batting seventh in Wednesday's rubber match with Boston.

Santana is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Marlins.

It's the third time in the last four games Santana has been out of the lineup and the sixth time across the last 10 tilts versus right-handed pitching that the 39-year-old has sat out. C.J. Kayfus is handling first base for the Guardians on Wednesday.

Caglianone (hamstring) went 4-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored in his first rehab game with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Caglianone didn't show any rust as he played in his first game in more than two weeks, picking up four singles for the Storm Chasers. The rookie also played all nine innings in right field and looks to be nearing a return to the Royals' active roster, which could come as soon as this weekend against the White Sox.

The Astros optioned Gordon to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.

Gordon's latest stint with the big club lasted only one day, as he'll be sent down after yielding five runs (four earned) in a two-inning relief outing Tuesday versus the Red Sox. Jordan Weems is taking Gordon's spot on the roster.