MLB Player News

Paredes went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Rangers.

Since Jeremy Pena (rib) landed on the injured list in late June, Paredes has stepped in as Houston's leadoff man. He's served as the Astros' table setter for each of the last 14 games, batting .293 with three home runs, nine runs and four RBI during that stretch. Paredes was recently named to his second straight All-Star team, but the Astros announced Sunday that the 26-year-old won't participate in the Midsummer Classic while he tends to a family matter, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Manager Joe Espada said he expects Paredes to rejoin the team in advance of its first game of the second half Friday in Seattle.

Melton (ankle) recently transitioned his rehab program to the Astros' spring training facility in Florida and is in the midst of hitting, running and throwing progressions, MLB.com reports.

Melton hit .241 with no home runs and three stolen bases in 11 games with Houston before landing on the injured list June 14 due to a right ankle sprain. The outfielder could be ready to begin a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break, but the Astros haven't yet offered up a definitive target date for his return from the IL.

France (shoulder) tossed a live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

France has been facing live hitters for nearly a month, but the Astros haven't yet provided an update on when he might be ready to embark on what will likely be an extended minor-league rehab assignment. The right-hander has been out all season while recovering from last July's surgery to repair a torn shoulder capsule.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Arrighetti (thumb) could be ready to begin a rehab assignment in about a week or a week and a half, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brown noted that Arrighetti has resumed throwing live batting practice sessions at the Astros' spring training facility in Florida, and the 25-year-old righty sounds like he'll get the green light to start up a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break. Arrighetti made just two starts to begin the season before being placed on the injured list April 8 due to a fractured right thumb, so he'll likely require multiple outings in the minors to build up his pitch count before he's cleared to rejoin the big-league rotation. Arrighetti could be back with the Astros at some point in early or mid-August.

Fried (finger) said Sunday that he's uncertain if he'll be ready to make his first start following the All-Star break next weekend in Atlanta, but he noted that he's improving as he recovers from a blister, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Fried was pulled from his most recent start in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Cubs ahead of the fourth inning due to a blister on his left index finger. The left-hander said Sunday that he's moving in the "right direction" and "getting better," but the Yankees might not have a better idea regarding his status for next weekend until he throws a bullpen session in the next few days. The three-time All-Star has enjoyed an impressive first season in New York, posting an 11-3 record, 2.43 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 113 strikeouts over 122 innings in 20 starts.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said after Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Red Sox that X-rays on Kim's left foot came back clean, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. Kim went hitless in three at-bats during the contest.

In his seventh-inning plate appearance, Kim fouled a ball off his foot before ultimately striking out. He was then lifted from the game in the bottom of the inning, with Taylor Walls shifting over from second base to cover Kim's spot at shortstop. The Rays are viewing the infielder as day-to-day, and the hope is that he'll be ready to return to the lineup Friday against the Orioles in the team's first game out of the All-Star break.

Baez went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Mariners. He also stole a base.

Baez has been scuffling a bit this month, but he finished up the first half of the season on a high note before his All-Star Game appearance later this week. The veteran is having a bounceback campaign with a .275 batting average and .752 OPS across 79 games. During the 2024 regular season, Baez batted just .184 with a .515 OPS. While he's hitting better, Baez isn't running as much as he did when he was younger, as Sunday's stolen base was just his second all year in three attempts.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that he expects Meyers (calf) to be out for "at the very minimum, three-plus weeks," Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

After he initially tweaked his right calf last Sunday in a win over the Dodgers, Meyers was held out of the lineup for two days before he checked back into the starting nine in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Guardians. Though he was credited with a start, Meyers didn't end up playing after aggravating the injury while running out to center field prior to the first pitch. He's since been diagnosed with a calf strain, and the injury is apparently viewed as more than a minor tweak, given that Brown has already seemingly counted Meyers out from returning before the beginning of August at the earliest. Taylor Trammell has started in center field in each of the three games since Meyers landed on the shelf and should have a clear path to an everyday role until the banged-up Astros regain some health in the outfield. In addition to Meyers, Houston has already lost Yordan Alvarez (hand), Pedro Leon (knee), Chas McCormick (oblique), Zach Dezenzo (hand) and Jacob Melton (ankle) to the injured list.

Greene went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Mariners.

Greene went deep for the second straight day, and he how has seven long balls over his last 14 games. For the year, the young outfielder is up to 24 home runs, which ties the career-best total he recorded during the 2024 regular season. The 24 homers are also good for eighth in the majors, and Greene's 78 RBI are the third most in baseball. The 24-year-old is certainly worthy of his starting spot in next week's All-Star Game.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that he doesn't expect Pena (ribs) to be activated from the injured list for the first game of the second half Friday in Seattle, but the shortstop's return shouldn't be far off, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Pena landed on the injured list in late June with a small rib fracture, but he recently resumed baseball activities by hitting in the batting cage and taking part in light on-field work. The big test for the shortstop will be throwing across the infield, but he's progressing well in his recovery thus far and could seemingly be back with the Astros before the end of July.