MLB Player News

Clarke went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 8-2 loss to Cleveland before he was removed from the game in the bottom of the eighth inning due to right hip discomfort, Theo DeRosa of MLB.com reports.

Clarke suffered the injury in the top of the eighth, when he came up gimpy while rounding the bases on Nick Kurtz's run-scoring double. The Athletics haven't provided an official update on Clarke's status ahead of Monday's series opener in Texas, but if he requires a stint on the injured list, the team could bring back JJ Bleday or Colby Thomas back from Triple-A Las Vegas to serve as his primary replacement in center field. Though most of his highlights in the majors since his May 23 promotion have come on the defensive end, Clarke has picked up the pace at the plate of late, slashing .298/.340/.574 with six doubles, two triples and a home run over his past 14 games.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that Gimenez (ankle) has resumed hitting in the batting cage and fielding grounders on his knees, MLB.com reports.

Gimenez hasn't yet been cleared to run or field grounders in an upright position while he recovers from a left ankle sprain, but he's been able to resume baseball activities on some level coming out of the All-Star break. The infielder should have a chance at returning from the 10-day injured list before the end of July, though he still has a few hurdles to clear in the recovery process.

Massey (wrist) is expected to shift his rehab assignment to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Initially placed on the 10-day injured list June 10 due to ankle sprain, Massey is now working his way back from a hairline fracture of his right wrist, which he sustained in a June 29 rehab game with Omaha. After about three weeks of rest and recovery, Massey was cleared to begin a new rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas over the weekend. In three starts for the Double-A club -- two in left field, one at designated hitter -- Massey went just 1-for-14 with four strikeouts, but the Royals will nonetheless have him shift his assignment to their top affiliate to begin the upcoming week. If Massey can eventually regain his timing at the plate, he could emerge as a strong-side platoon player for Kansas City once he's deemed ready to return from the IL.

Akin (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Akin has missed most of July with left shoulder inflammation but is ready to test himself in a game setting. Because the left-hander's absence has been relatively brief, Akin will likely require just a couple rehab appearances before rejoining the Orioles' active roster.

Schreck (hand) has gone 2-for-8 with a home run, two RBI and an additional run in two games for Triple-A Buffalo since being reinstated from the 7-day injured list Friday.

The 25-year-old outfielder spent about a month on Buffalo's IL while recovering from the hand injury. Since receiving a promotion from Double-A New Hampshire in early June, Schreck has put together a .235/.350/.529 slash line with three home runs over 40 plate appearances for Buffalo.

Lucas (undisclosed) struck out three while giving up one hit and one walk over three scoreless innings Saturday in Triple-A Buffalo's 3-2 win over Omaha after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list earlier in the day.

Lucas had started in six of his previous seven appearances with Buffalo prior to being shelved with the unspecified injury, but he was used out of the bullpen in his return to action Saturday, working in tandem with CJ Van Eyk, who covered the first 3.1 innings. Before his recent absence due to the injury, Lucas had made five appearances (four starts) for Toronto earlier this season, logging a 5.82 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 21.2 innings. Unless additional injuries strike the Toronto rotation, Lucas likely won't be in line for a starting assignment with the big club in the near future.

Bichette went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Giants.

The shortstop has unleashed a barrage of two-baggers over the last couple weeks. Bichette has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, slashing .362/.423/.574 over that stretch with seven doubles, a homer, six RBI and seven runs.

Barger went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the Giants.

His fifth-inning shot off Spencer Bivens capped an impressive power display from the Blue Jays, as seven of the team's nine hits on the day went for extra bases. Barger is slashing a dazzling .340/.364/.698 through 15 games in July with five of his 14 homers on the season and 16 of his 42 RBI.

Springer went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Sunday's win over the Giants.

The veteran outfielder has come out flying after the All-Star break, racking up six hits in the three-game set against San Francisco. Springer's fifth-inning long ball off former teammate Robbie Ray was his 17th homer of the season, and through 15 contests in July, he's slashing a blistering .351/.413/.702 with six home runs, three steals, 13 runs and 14 RBI.

Nance struck out three over 1.2 perfect relief innings to record his first hold of the season in Sunday's win over the Giants.

The 34-year-old right-hander was called up to bolster an injury-ravaged Toronto bullpen last weekend, and Nance has been surprisingly effective, allowing just an unearned run over three appearances and 3.2 innings with a 5:1 K:BB. With the Blue Jays likely to add more depth at the trade deadline and set to get setup options like Yimi Garcia (ankle/elbow) and Nick Sandlin (elbow) back in the next couple weeks, Nance's stay in the majors could end up being fairly brief.