MLB Player News

Montgomery is slashing .222/.335/.370 with seven home runs, four steals and a 28.2 percent strikeout rate in 57 games for Triple-A Charlotte.

At 22 years old, Montgomery is at an appropriate level of the minors, and his performance thus far is backed up by a mediocre 23.2 percent hard-hit rate and a poor 66.7 percent contact rate. The White Sox probably would have promoted Montgomery to the majors earlier this season if he looked ready, but at this point there's little incentive for them to bring him up until late August so that he can preserve his rookie eligibility heading into 2025.

Kopech struck out two and walked one without allowing a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday against the Mariners.

Kopech imploded to allow three earned runs and blow a lead in an appearance Monday, but he managed to bounce back in this outing. He entered the game with the score tied at 1-1 and turned in just his third scoreless effort in his last five appearances. Kopech remains the White Sox's primary closer, though his last save came on May 15.

Stanton is out of the lineup for Thursday's game in Kansas City.

Stanton slugged home runs in the second and third games of the series but has bookended the power output with days off in the first and now the fourth games. Aaron Judge will get a day out of the outfield and serve as the Yankees' designated hitter Thursday while Stanton rests.

Holliday is hitting .182 with one home run, one steal, 12 walks and 12 strikeouts in 10 June games for Triple-A Norfolk.

Holliday is slashing .238/.407/.415 with five home runs, four steals, a 22.2 percent walk rate and a 24.3 percent strikeout rate in 40 games since being optioned to Triple-A on April 26. The Orioles could summon the 20-year-old middle infielder at any point, but his return to the big leagues in the coming weeks is more of a possibility than an inevitability. Due to the fact Holliday spent 16 days on the active roster in April, Baltimore would need to keep him in the minors until Sept. 1 while limiting him to 130 or fewer total at-bats in order to preserve his rookie eligibility heading into 2025.

Fermin will start at catcher and bat sixth in Thursday's game against the Yankees.

Fermin remains the Royals' No. 2 catcher, but he's been playing more than the typical backup of late due to Kansas City's willingness to deploy top backstop Salvador Perez at first base or designated hitter on his non-catching days. With Perez serving as the Royals' DH for Thursday's day game, Fermin will pick up his fourth start in five games. Fermin is hitting .298 with two home runs, 17 runs and 13 RBI over 122 plate appearances on the season, and his recent surge in playing time could be enough to make him a viable option in AL-only leagues or mixed leagues that start two catchers.

Melendez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Yankees.

For the third time in the last four contests, the Royals' lineup card hasn't included Melendez, who is amidst a 7-for-75 freefall at the dish dating back to May 11. Dairon Blanco will cover left field Thursday while Melendez takes a seat.

Loftin is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Yankees.

Loftin had started each of the last five games at second base, but he will begin Thursday's contest on the bench. Garrett Hampson will occupy the keystone for the Royals as they try to avoid a sweep.

The Royals optioned Lynch to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

The move comes one day after Lynch allowed six runs over 6.2 innings in bulk relief in a loss to the Yankees. Kansas City's decision to send Lynch back to the minors could indicate that the club expects Michael Wacha (foot) to be ready to return from the 15-day injured list next week, but no announcement on a replacement for Lynch in the rotation has been made just yet.

The Royals recalled Veneziano from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

He'll join the Royals ahead of Thursday's series finale with the Yankees to provide the big club with a fresh arm out of the bullpen. Veneziano has made two prior relief appearances with Kansas City but has otherwise served as a swingman for Omaha this season, logging a 3.38 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 30:19 K:BB across 37.1 innings covering 17 outings (five starts) at Triple-A.

Baddoo is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.

Baddoo has now made just two starts in a stretch of seven games and appears to be fading into a fourth-outfielder role after he had begun to see steady playing time in late May. His downturn in playing time appears to be a byproduct of Justyn-Henry Malloy's move into a near-everyday role since his June 3 call-up from Triple-A Toledo.