MLB Player News

Blanco is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Seattle.

Blanco went through a stretch with four starts in five games, reaching base seven times while hitting one home run and stealing three bases. However, he's now been out of the lineup for two straight contests. The outfielder certainly has the ability to help fantasy managers with his speed if he gets regular reps, so his playing time is worth tracking.

Garver (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

He'll remain on the bench for the second day in a row while he manages upper-back spasms. Mitch Haniger will get a day out of the outfield and serve as the Mariners' designated hitter while Garver rests up.

Polanco (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Polanco will take a seat for the second day in a row while he manages a tight right hamstring. The Mariners are viewing him as day-to-day, but a trip to the injured list could become more realistic if Polanco is still not available to start coming out of Thursday's team off day.

Velazquez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

Velazquez hasn't fully regained an everyday role yet, but he started each of the last four games (two against right-handers, two against left-handers) and is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak in which he's slashed .375/.412/.625. Even so, Velazquez will find himself as the odd man out of the lineup Wednesday while the Royals give Salvador Perez a day off behind the plate while keeping his bat in the starting nine at DH.

Whitlock (oblique) struck out five and allowed two hits and one walk over 4.2 scoreless innings Wednesday in his rehab start with Triple-A Worcester.

Whitlock pumped in 40 of his 61 pitches for strikes and induced 12 swings and misses, looking as strong as ever while pitching in a game for the first time since April 16. Even though he didn't get fully stretched out for a traditional starter's workload Wednesday, Whitlock could return from the 15-day injured list to make his next appearance out of the Red Sox rotation. If the Red Sox decide he won't require an additional rehab appearance, Whitlock would likely start with the big club either Monday or Tuesday at Tampa Bay.

The Mariners optioned Haggerty to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday.

Haggerty hasn't been playing much and has done little in the opportunities he has received this season, recording one hit in 15 at-bats. Dominic Canzone (shoulder) was reinstated from the injured list and will take over Haggerty's spot on the 26-man active roster.

The Mariners reinstated Canzone (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

The Mariners weren't expected to bring Canzone back from the IL until this weekend, but he'll end up joining the club for its series finale with the Royals after he checked out fine following his third rehab game with Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday. Prior to landing on the shelf April 15 with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder, Canzone had taken hold of a strong-side platoon role in left field. Those duties have largely fallen to Luke Raley during his absence, and though Raley has enjoyed a hot run at the plate of late, Canzone will step into the starting lineup in his first game back with the team. He'll man left field and bat seventh Wednesday against the Royals.

Taylor is slashing .253/.421/.440 with three home runs and nine steals in 27 games for High-A Bowling Green.

The Rays' first-round pick in last year's draft, Taylor has been at least 40 percent better than the average hitter in each league he has played in thus far. He has shown a very patient approach, with a 26.4 percent strikeout rate and a 23.1 percent walk rate. Taylor has an excellent batted-ball profile, with a 23.7 percent groundball rate, 7.1 percent infield-flyball rate, 21.3 percent Oppo% and a 36.1 percent hard-hit rate. In other words, he's hitting the ball hard and in the air with great frequency. Taylor has started 16 games at shortstop and 11 games at third base, and he should be able to move around the diamond as needed.

Freeman went 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, two hit-by-pitches, a stolen base and one run scored in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Rangers.

That's a hard way to get on base four times, but it worked well to set the table for the Guardians. Freeman is still not hitting all that well -- he's batting .167 over 12 games in May, dropping his season average to .193 through 37 contests. He's made up for it with a passable .307 on-base percentage and 9.2 percent walk rate. The 24-year-old has added five steals, four home runs, 13 RBI, 21 runs scored and six doubles through 141 plate appearances. Manager Stephen Vogt is still trying to figure out who will fit best at leadoff while Steven Kwan (hamstring) is out, and Freeman is in the mix, having hit atop the order in each of the last three games.

Gimenez went 2-for-4 with two RBI, one stolen base and one run scored in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Rangers.

Gimenez contributed an RBI single in the second inning and a sacrifice fly in the ninth. He's hit safely in three straight games after going 0-for-15 over the previous four contests. The second baseman is up to a .255/.318/.357 slash line with six steals, two home runs, 23 RBI, 23 runs scored, eight doubles and a triple over 40 contests. While his power is slightly down this year, the rest of his offense is roughly in line with where he was at in 2023.