MLB Player News

Baez underwent surgery on his left thumb Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Baez has been held out of action at Double-A Corpus Christi since the end of August due to his injured thumb, and the procedure will officially put an early end to his second year of professional baseball. The 20-year-old outfield prospect slashed .258/.301/.462 with 21 homers and 76 RBI across 468 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A, and he's expected to be ready to go for the start of next season.

Rafaela is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Tampa Bay, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Rafaela is getting a breather after going 1-for-16 with seven strikeouts across his last five games. Nick Sogard will cover second base and bat ninth for the Red Sox.

Wong is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Tampa Bay, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

It's a regular day off for Wong, who started at catcher in each of the first two games of the series. Danny Jansen will be behind the dish for Thursday's finale.

DeLuca is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Red Sox.

DeLuca's playing time has slipped a bit lately, as he's now started just half of the Rays' last eight contests. The club will go with Jose Siri in center field for its series finale against Boston.

Caminero is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

It will be just his second day off since being promoted in mid-August and his first time out of the lineup in four weeks. Jose Caballero will cover third base for the Rays on Thursday while Taylor Walls holds down shortstop.

Robles (hand) was scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Yankees.

Robles had been set to return to action in the designated hitter slot after missing Wednesday's game with a bruised right hand, but evidently he's still feeling some discomfort. Jorge Polanco will move into the DH spot and Dylan Moore will enter the lineup at second base.

Schneider will start in left field and bat fifth in Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Schneider will stick in the lineup for the fifth game in a row, with four of his starts during that stretch coming against right-handed pitchers. With Bo Bichette (finger) joining Daulton Varsho (shoulder) and Will Wagner (knee) on the injured list with season-ending injuries, Schneider could see near-everyday playing time over the final week of the 2024 campaign. Schneider is batting just .201 on the season but has picked up the pace lately, as he's gone 8-for-23 (.348 average) with three home runs, one triple, nine RBI and five runs over his last six games.

Lukes will start in right field and bat leadoff in Thursday's game against the Rangers.

The lefty-hitting Lukes was on the bench Wednesday against Rangers southpaw Cody Bradford, but he's otherwise picked up starts in six of the last seven games. Lukes benefited from Joey Loperfido missing two contests with an adductor injury, but the Blue Jays could have regular roles available for both players down the stretch with Daulton Varsho (shoulder) having been shut down for the season. Since his call-up from Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 30, Lukes has slashed .356/.423/.511 with no home runs, one stolen base, eight runs and six RBI over 52 plate appearances.

Springer is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Springer will get a breather Thursday while the Blue Jays wrap up their series in Texas with a day game after a night game. Nathan Lukes will cover Springer's usual spot in right field and will bat leadoff.

Jimenez will start at second base and bat seventh in Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Jimenez will pick up his fourth consecutive start at the keystone, despite going 1-for-9 with three strikeouts over the previous three contests. Even though Jimenez has produced a weak .224/.332/.365 slash line over 184 plate appearances with the big club this season, the Blue Jays could nonetheless stick with him as their primary second baseman the rest of the way with Will Wagner (knee) done for the season and with Davis Schneider having taken on more playing time in left field of late.