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  • Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX

    Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Idle for second straight game

    Duran is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

    After a stretch of five consecutive starts at four different positions, Duran will take a seat for the second day in a row, with both of his absences coming while the Brewers have sent right-handers to the mound. Duran looks like he'll mainly be limited to a short-side platoon role in the Texas infield while the Rangers turn to Josh Smith and Cody Freeman as their preferred double-play tandem against right-handed pitching.

  • Jonah Heim C | TEX

    Rangers' Jonah Heim: Resting up Wednesday

    Heim is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

    Heim will rest after he had been included in the lineup in each of the last four games, making three starts at catcher and one as a designated hitter during that stretch. Though the Rangers will likely continue to make regular room for both Heim and Kyle Higashioka in the lineup when the team faces left-handed starters, Higashioka will likely rank as the preferred option behind the plate against right-handed pitching.

  • Mitch Spence RP | ATH

    Athletics' Mitch Spence: Joining big club

    The Athletics recalled Spence from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

    He'll join the 28-man active roster in place of right-hander Scott McGough, who was optioned to Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Spence had been working out of the rotation at Las Vegas following his July 10 demotion, turning in a 6.21 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 31:12 K:BB in 29 innings. The Athletics have a full rotation at the moment, so Spence looks like he'll be ticketed for a long-relief role for the time being. However, if Mason Barnett falters in his start Wednesday against the Red Sox, it wouldn't be surprising if Spence replaced him in the rotation the next time his turn comes up.

  • Scott McGough RP | ATH

    Athletics' Scott McGough: Dispatched to Las Vegas

    The Athletics optioned McGough to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

    McGough's brief time with the Athletics didn't go well, as he was touched up for five runs on eight hits and one walk over five innings covering three relief appearances. He's being replaced on the active roster by Mitch Spence, who was recalled from Triple-A.

  • Rays' Brian Van Belle: Dealing with UCL sprain

    Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Van Belle's right elbow injury is believed to be a UCL sprain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

    Before he was transferred to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Van Belle was initially placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday due to elbow inflammation. A recent MRI has revealed a sprain, and Van Belle now faces the possibility of requiring the second Tommy John surgery of his career. According to Cash, Van Belle plans to consult with Dr. Keith Meister over the next 3-to-4 weeks before a decision is made regarding whether he'll treat the injury through rest and rehab or undergo Tommy John surgery or another type of elbow procedure. Acquired from the Reds ahead of the trade deadline, Van Belle received his first call-up to the Rays on Aug. 22 and made four multi-inning relief appearances before landing on the shelf.

  • Kyle Harrison SP | BOS

    Red Sox's Kyle Harrison: Could piggyback Tolle on Wednesday

    The Red Sox plan to recall Harrison from Triple-A Worcester ahead of Wednesday's game against the Athletics in Sacramento, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

    Though manager Alex Cora has confirmed that Payton Tolle will start Wednesday's contest, the rookie southpaw will be in line for an abbreviated appearance since he'll be pitching on less than five days' rest for the first time as a professional. According to Cotillo, Cora wouldn't reveal his plans for once Tolle exits the contest, but Harrison would make sense in a piggyback role. Since being acquired from the Giants in mid-June, Harrison has yet to make his Boston debut and has been working out of the rotation at Worcester, turning in a 3.75 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 50:27 K:BB in 50.1 innings over 12 starts. He made a one-inning appearance Sunday and should be capable of covering multiple frames Wednesday in relief of Tolle.

  • George Lombard SS | NYY

    Yankees' George Lombard: Not overmatched at Double-A

    Lombard is slashing .215/.336/.362 with eight home runs, 22 steals, a 13.5 percent walk rate and a 26 percent strikeout rate in 102 games for Double-A Somerset.

    The third-youngest qualified hitter at Double-A (behind Sebastian Walcott and Nelson Rada), Lombard makes for a tough evaluation, as his youth can generally be used to explain away his shortcomings. He is a career .236 hitter with a career .359 OBP, and he's managed 14 home runs in 250 career games while always being one of the youngest players in his league. Getting the ball in the air isn't a problem for Lombard, and his 39 percent groundball rate and 44.9 percent pull rate are encouraging marks. The passage of time could lead to Lombard naturally accessing significantly more power in a year or two as his body matures, and he's a no-doubt shortstop with above-average speed and on-base ability. The righty-hitting Lombard could get another aggressive assignment to Triple-A next year before turning 21 in June.

  • Payton Tolle RP | BOS

    Red Sox's Payton Tolle: In line for abbreviated start

    Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Tolle will make an abbreviated start in Wednesday's game against the Athletics in Sacramento, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

    Over the weekend, Cora had said that Tolle would be part of the pitching plan for Wednesday's game, though the rookie wasn't in line to start. Cora has since opted to have Tolle make a start in the series finale, though the left-hander will handle a restricted workload since he'll be pitching on four days' rest for the first time all season. The Red Sox will recall Kyle Harrison from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, and he could end up piggybacking Tolle in the contest. Through his first two MLB starts, Tolle has struck out 10 over 8.1 innings but has given up seven earned runs on eight hits and six walks.

  • Dax Kilby SS | NYY

    Yankees' Dax Kilby: Turns heads in pro debut

    Kilby hit .353/.457/.441 with zero home runs, 16 steals, a 16 percent walk rate and a 13.6 percent strikeout rate in 18 games for Single-A Tampa.

    The Yankees gave Kilby an over-slot $2.8 million bonus after selecting him with the No. 39 overall pick this year out of a high school in Georgia. The lefty-hitting shortstop has quickly upped his dynasty league value, as his exit velocity data portends at least above-average power down the road. He has a 108.9 mph batted ball and a 105.6 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, which are both excellent marks for an 18-year-old making his pro debut. Eighty of his 81 plate appearances came against pitchers who were older than him, and the average player in the Florida State League is 2.9 years older than Kilby. He has a very high fantasy ceiling, and the hype should only build during the offseason.

  • Jacob Lopez SP | ATH

    Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Making good progress

    Lopez (elbow) is making good progress and has an outside chance of pitching in MLB before the season ends, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

    Lopez landed on the injured list Aug. 26 with a left elbow flexor strain, just two days after giving up nine runs in a disastrous start against the Mariners. Prior to that outing, the southpaw had been effective, recording a 3.28 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 20 appearances (16 starts) and 90.2 innings. The Athletics aren't in a position to rush him back without playoff pressure, but the positive reports on his recovery are at least encouraging for a possible return.

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