MLB Player News

Stanton is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Blue Jays.

Stanton started the first three games of the series and cranked his first home run of the season in Wednesday's contest, but he'll begin Thursday's festivities on the bench. Aaron Judge is getting a start at designated hitter as the Yankees try to avoid a four-game sweep.

Goldschmidt is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Toronto.

Goldschmidt had started at first base in five of the past six contests for the Yankees, but he'll grab a seat for Thursday's series finale. Ben Rice is handling first base and batting second.

Wells (finger) will start at catcher and bat eighth in Thursday's contest in Toronto.

Wells missed the previous four starts while recovering from artery damage in his left index finger, although he did appear as a pinch runner in Wednesday's game. The 25-year-old has struggled at the plate lately, slashing only .159/.191/.205 across his last 14 contests.

The Rays reinstated Kim (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Kim has been on the injured list all season while working his way back from a shoulder procedure he underwent in October, though he's also been dealing with a hamstring issue over the past several weeks. Now fully recovered from both injuries, the 29-year-old infielder will make his Rays debut Friday against the Twins and is expected to work as Tampa Bay's primary shortstop going forward. Curtis Mead was optioned to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Pederson (hand) is likely to return from the 10-day injured list in about three weeks, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

The estimated timeline laid out by Bochy would put Pederson in line to rejoin the Rangers in the second week after the All-Star break. Before being placed on the injured list May 25 after he fractured his right hand on a hit-by-pitch, Pederson was in the midst of a rough first season in Texas. He was batting just .131 with two home runs over 145 plate appearances, though his 14.1 percent walk rate and 19.3 percent strikeout rate were both comfortably better than his career rates (11.6 percent, 23.5 percent). Once he's fully healed from the hand fracture and completes a rehab assignment, Pederson should settle back in as the Rangers' preferred designated hitter versus right-handed pitching.

Grisham (hamstring) will start in center field and bat leadoff in Thursday's game versus the Blue Jays.

Grisham didn't start the previous two contests after left hamstring tightness forced him from Monday's series opener. However, he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Thursday's series finale as the Yankees try to avoid being swept.

The Angels selected Stevens' contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.

Stevens has been with Triple-A Salt Lake all season, slashing .307/.383/.542 with 14 homers, 43 RBI and 48 RBI through 298 plate appearances, and he'll now get his first look in the majors following Christian Moore's (thumb) move to the injured list. The 26-year-old Stevens will make his MLB debut Thursday as the Angels' starting second baseman, though Kevin Newman figures to be the favorite to start at the keystone most days for the Halos going forward.

The Angels placed Moore on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a left thumb sprain.

Moore suffered the injury during Wednesday's contest in Atlanta while making a diving play on a grounder in the sixth inning. The rookie infielder will be eligible for activation the weekend before the All-Star break, but thumb sprains can often take multiple weeks to heal. Kevin Newman figures to be the immediate beneficiary of Moore's absence, but the Angels could get Yoan Moncada (knee) back soon, which would allow Luis Rengifo to shift to second base to cover for Moore.

Langford (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Thursday.

It may be the only rehab game he plays, as Langford is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Saturday's game in San Diego, presuming all goes well. Langford has been sidelined since late June with a left oblique strain.

The Yankees signed Lopez to a minor-league contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The Yankees have one of the worst defensive infields in baseball, so signing the light-hitting but slick-fielding Lopez as a depth addition is sensible. Lopez has gone 1-for-24 at the plate during stints this season between the Angels and Cubs and will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.