MLB Player News

Dubon will start in center field and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Giants, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Dubon will be making his fifth consecutive start in the outfield, though he'll be occupying center Wednesday after his previous four starts came in left field. Jake Meyers appears to be receiving a routine off day Wednesday, but Dubon looks to have emerged as the Astros' preferred option in left over the struggling Chas McCormick, who is on the bench for the second day in a row after slashing .152/.152/.242 in 13 games since coming off the injured list. Dubon, meanwhile, is carrying a six-game hit streak into Wednesday's contest that has brought his batting average up to .303 for the season.

Meyers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest in San Francisco, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Meyers started in both of the first two games of the series, going 2-for-8 with five strikeouts. He'll begin the series finale on the bench, giving way to Mauricio Dubon in center field.

Diaz (finger) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in San Francisco, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diaz is still feeling the effects of a foul tip off his right index finger and will miss a third straight start. He remains day-to-day and could be ready to play Friday versus the Tigers after the Astros' off day Thursday. Victor Caratini will handle the catching duties again Wednesday.

The Athletics optioned Otanez to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Otanez allowed one hit and one walk while retiring two batters in his lone appearance with the Athletics during his brief time in the majors. His spot on the roster and in the bullpen will be absorbed by right-hander Lucas Erceg (forearm), who was activated from the injured list.

The Athletics activated Erceg (forearm) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Erceg spent the minimum amount of time on the IL and was able to skip a rehab assignment prior to being activated. He's been terrific in relief for Oakland this season, collecting a 2.86 ERA and 27:8 K:BB across 22 innings as the primary setup man ahead of closer Mason Miller.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that the club is considering activating Rodriguez (back) from the 15-day injured list to start either Saturday versus the Guardians, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Rodriguez was terrific in his latest and likely final rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, striking out 10 over four shutout innings while scattering three hits and one walk. He would be starting on short rest if he's brought back Saturday, but the club is considering it because it prefers giving Jose Berrios an extra day of rest before his next outing, which would fall Sunday. If Rodriguez is in fact tabbed to fill the opening in the rotation Saturday, he could be deployed as part of a tandem with Bowden Francis, who had been occupying the No. 5 spot in the rotation following Alek Manoah's (elbow) move to the IL.

Gimenez went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Reds.

Gimenez has gone 4-for-26 (.154) over six games in June, and he hasn't drawn a walk in that span. The second baseman has maintained fairly steady playing time, but he's hit lower in the order with the Guardians facing a southpaw in three of their last four games. That may be a factor in his quiet stretch, though he's still doing well overall with a .263/.318/.363 slash line, four home runs, 10 steals, 33 RBI and 35 runs scored across 60 contests.

Naylor went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two additional RBI in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Reds.

Naylor had an RBI single and drove in another run with a fielder's choice in the contest. While his bat is still quiet in June -- he's gone 5-for-32 (.156) over eight games -- he's still driven in eight RBI this month. Overall, the first baseman is slashing .224/.307/.483 with 17 homers, 50 RBI, 36 runs scored and three stolen bases through 62 contests.

Stewart (shoulder) threw five pitches off the mound Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Stewart threw off the bump for the first time since he went down with right shoulder tendinitis more than a month ago. He'll need to continue going through a ramp-up progression and will likely require at least a rehab appearance or two before returning from the 15-day injured list and slotting back into a setup role for the Twins.

Alexander (0-1) took the loss against the Padres on Tuesday, allowing an earned run on one hit and one walk over two-thirds of an inning.

Unfortunately for Alexander, the one hit he allowed was a walk-off solo home run to Kyle Higashioka, saddling the veteran southpaw with his first loss of the season. Alexander has now allowed an earned run in each of his last two appearances after generating four consecutive scoreless efforts of an inning apiece, but he's still carrying an acceptable 4.00 ERA and stellar 0.67 WHIP across the nine innings covering his 10 appearances.