MLB Player News

Palacios (knee) was sent to the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Palacios has been cleared to play in games after going through various baseball activities. The utility player has been limited to only one game this season, first because of a fractured finger and more recently due to a sprained right knee. Because he last played a game on April 17, Palacios will likely require a good number of rehab contests before being activated from the 10-day injured list.

Toro started as first base and went 1-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 10-8 extra-innings loss to the Rays.

There was much turmoil caused by Rafael Devers' refusal to play first base and Boston's scrapped experiment with Kristian Campbell to move there, but Toro may have been the answer all along. He's reached base safely in 10 consecutive games, going 17-for-40 (.425) with five doubles, one home run and seven RBI during the streak. Toro is slashing .333/.352/.563 over 25 games for Boston, but it's fair to question if he can sustain that over the long haul.

Gipson-Long will pitch in bulk relief for the Tigers on Tuesday in Baltimore, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Brant Hurter will serve as the opening pitcher for the Tigers before turning the game over to Gipson-Long. While making his first appearance at the big-league level last Wednesday since Sept. 28, 2023 after completing recoveries from Tommy John and hip surgeries, Gipson-Long threw 70 pitches and gave up three earned runs over 3.2 innings in a no-decision against the White Sox. The right-hander should be capable of tossing 80-plus pitches Tuesday.

Hurter will serve as the Tigers' opening pitcher in Tuesday's contest versus the Orioles, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Hurter is stretched out more than most openers, having gone three innings in three appearances this season and multiple frames with regularity. He will be followed by Sawyer Gipson-Long, who is slated to absorb most of the innings out of the bullpen.

Story went 2-for-6 with an RBI in Monday's 10-8 extra-innings loss to Tampa Bay.

Story's bat continued to show life, as he logged a third consecutive multi-hit game. His revival started in the final two games of the Yankees' series, and the shortstop has gone 7-for-15 with a home run, a double and three RBI over that stretch. His season average is up to .229, its highest point since May 20.

Stanton (elbows) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday.

Stanton had been working out at the Yankees' spring training complex in Florida, and after a pitstop in New York to get a final evaluation, he's been cleared for rehab games. The expectation is that he will be ready for activation within the next week or so, although the Yankees have not revealed an exact target date for Stanton's season debut. The designated hitter is coming back from tennis elbow in both arms.

Rodriguez started in right field and went 0-for-2 with a walk in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Reds.

Rodriguez started both games since he was called up Sunday to replace a struggling Jhonkensy Noel. Both starts have come against left-handers, and Rodriguez appears to have taken Noel's spot as part of a platoon in right field with Nolan Jones. Cleveland is getting AL-low production from its right fielders, and the Guardians hope Rodriguez can bring some of that .902 OPS he had at Triple-A Columbus to the majors.

Naylor went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Reds.

The home run was Naylor's ninth in 50 games. Naylor, who hit a home run for a second straight game, may be emerging from a slump. He's gone 5-for-7 with three RBI and four runs in those two contests. This mini eruption comes after a stretch in which the catcher had one hit over 26 at-bats.

Clase went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a 5-4 win in 10 innings against St. Louis on Monday.

Clase came through when Toronto needed him most, smashing a 415-foot solo homer with one out in the ninth inning to tie the game. The long ball was his first of the campaign over 69 plate appearances and just the second of his major-league career. Clase's big performance was sorely needed, as he entered Monday having gone 0-for-14 over his previous four games.

Kirk went 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and two total RBI in Monday's 5-4, extra-inning win against St. Louis.

Kirk's nine total bases were a season high, and he tied a campaign-best mark with four hits. Among the knocks was an eighth-inning solo homer and a 10th-inning double that plated the winning run. Kirk is slashing a cool .316/.361/.421 on the campaign, and those marks have been buoyed by a hot nine-game stretch during which the backstop is batting .457 (16-for-35) with five extra-base hits, 10 RBI and just three strikeouts.