MLB Player News

The Royals placed Loftin on the 7-day injured list Wednesday due to a concussion.

Loftin played the entirety of Tuesday's 6-0 loss to the Cubs, but he was tagged hard on a play at third base during the contest and exhibited concussion symptoms after the game, according to Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City. He will be eligible to return in a week, but as is the case with all players dealing with concussions, the timeline for his activation is uncertain.

Eder will likely be used in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Brock Burke in Wednesday's game against the Mets, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Other than closer Kenley Jansen, Eder is the Halos' freshest arm in the bullpen, as he hasn't been used since he covered three innings of long relief in Friday's 6-5 win over the Phillies. The Angels treated that game as a bullpen day with reliever Ryan Zeferjahn working the opening frame, and a similar arrangement could unfold Wednesday with Burke unlikely to cover more than an inning or two. Eder thus looks like a good bet to cover multiple frames in relief, but it's unclear if the Angels are seriously considering moving him into the rotation. He's had mixed results through his first seven outings out of the bullpen, compiling a 3.65 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 8:8 K:BB in 12.1 innings.

The Royals recalled Melendez from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

He's taking the 26-man active roster spot vacated by Nick Loftin, who was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list. Melendez was sent down to Omaha back in April after a 4-for-47 start to the season. He was predictably better at Omaha, although Melendez wasn't exactly begging for a promotion with a .252/.300/.472 batting line over 317 plate appearances in the International League. The 26-year-old will get some looks in the outfield against right-handed pitching, but he might be used more in a reserve role.

Springer went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Yankees.

The 35-year-old continues his career resurgence. Springer has delivered multiple hits in nine of 17 games in July, slashing .349/.431/.667 on the month with two doubles, six homers, three steals, 15 RBI and 16 runs.

Hoffman (6-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Yankees, giving up one run on one hit in the ninth inning.

Brought in for the top of the ninth with the score tied 4-4, Hoffman coughed up the lead when Ben Rice turned on a first-pitch fastball and drove it over the fence in right-center field for the game-winning run. Hoffman has served up 10 homers in 43.1 innings this season, leading to a 4.78 ERA despite an impressive 60:11 K:BB and 1.06 WHIP, and as a result it's possible he could get bumped aside as Toronto's closer if the club makes a high-profile bullpen addition at the trade deadline.

Greene is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Greene and fellow left-handed hitter Colt Keith will head to the bench Wednesday for the day game after a night game while the Pirates send southpaw Bailey Falter to the hill. With Greene out of the lineup, Matt Vierling will get the start in left field and will bat fifth.

Keith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Keith and fellow left-handed hitter Riley Greene will head to the bench Wednesday for the day game after a night game while the Pirates send southpaw Bailey Falter to the hill. With Keith out of the lineup, Zach McKinstry will occupy third base and Jahmai Jones will enter the lineup at designated hitter.

Soler went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday in a loss to the Mets.

Soler kicked off the scoring Tuesday with a solo homer to left field in the second inning. Though that was his lone hit in the contest, it was another sign that the veteran outfielder's bat is starting to come around. Over his past nine games, Soler has gone 9-for-26 (.346 batting average) with three homers and five RBI. The hot stretch has lifted his season batting average from .202 to .216.

Rice went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 5-4 win against the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Rice couldn't reach base in any of his first three plate appearances, but he came through when it mattered most, swatting a solo homer in the ninth inning to break a 4-4 tie. It was Rice's first homer since June 24, a span of 16 games. The young slugger has seen fewer opportunities since Giancarlo Stanton returned from an extended stint on the injured list. Rice has started just three times in the Yankees' past seven contests.

Urquidy (elbow) threw a 30-pitch live batting practice session Tuesday at the Tigers' spring facility in Lakeland, Fla., Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Urquidy faced hitters for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2024. The right-hander will need to face hitters on several more occasions before the Tigers send him out on what will most likely be an extended minor-league rehab assignment. Urquidy is unlikely to return from the 60-day injured list until around mid-to-late August.