MLB Player News

Higashioka is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Miami.

Higashioka will get a breather after starting at catcher the previous two days. Elias Diaz will be behind the dish and bat eighth for the Rangers in the series opener.

Rave will start in right field and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Rays.

Rave will crack the lineup for the third time in four matchups versus right-handed pitchers and appears to be getting prioritized over fellow left-handed hitter Kameron Misner for the final opening in the Kansas City outfield. Since being promoted from Triple-A Omaha on June 14, Rave has gone 3-for-7 with three extra-base hits, three walks, two RBI and three runs over four games, earning himself some more opportunities in the process.

The Yankees recalled De Los Santos from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.

He's absorbing the roster spot vacated by Elmer Rodriguez, who was sent down to Triple-A following a spot start Sunday. De Los Santos has pitched well this season for the Yankees when given an opportunity, yielding only one run with a 6:3 K:BB over 5.1 frames.

Loftin will start at third base and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Rays.

Loftin will remain in the lineup for a seventh straight game after going 7-for-22 with one home run, four doubles, three walks, four RBI and two runs across the prior six contests. He's been the main beneficiary of Maikel Garcia (hand) and Bobby Witt (knee) both having missed time over the past week, but Loftin's opportunities could dry up if Witt avoids a stint on the injured list. Garcia already seems to be past his hand injury, as he'll cover shortstop Monday in place of Witt for a second straight game.

Walls is not in the lineup for Monday's tilt against the Royals.

The Rays will go with Ben Williamson at shortstop in the series opener. Walls had started each of the previous six contests.

Feduccia is absent from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Royals.

Righty Michael Wacha starts for the Royals and is better against lefties, which at least partly explains why the lefty-swinging Feduccia is not in the lineup. Nick Fortes will do the catching for the Rays.

Misner is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays.

The left-handed-hitting Misner will be on the bench for the third time in the Royals' last four matchups with right-handed starting pitchers. Since being called up from Triple-A Omaha on June 10, Misner has held his own at the plate with a .350/.381/.350 slash line over 22 plate appearances, but it hasn't been enough for him to gain a foothold in the everyday lineup. The Royals seem to be prioritizing Lane Thomas and John Rave over Misner in the outfield in the wake of Kyle Isbel (foot) and Vinnie Pasquantino (hand) recently landing on the injured list.

Mullins is not in the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Royals.

The Royals' starting pitcher, Michael Wacha, has reverse splits, which is why the left-handed-hitting Mullins will begin the game on the bench. Jonny DeLuca will cover center field and Ryan Vilade will be in right field for the Rays.

Witt (knee) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays.

Witt hasn't played since exiting last Thursday's contest against the Cardinals due to a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee. The Royals have seemed optimistic to this point that Witt could avoid a stint on the injured list, but the time to make a decision one way or another is likely coming soon. Maikel Garcia will shift over to shortstop again Monday, while Nick Loftin will grab the start at third base.

Wallner is slashing .288/.358/.598 with 11 home runs and two stolen bases over 148 plate appearances at Triple-A St. Paul since the Twins demoted him to the minors May 14.

Like Royce Lewis before him, Wallner could be the next member of the Twins' Opening Day lineup to overcome a disappointing start to the season and earn his way back to the big leagues by raking at Triple-A. The Twins sent Wallner to the minors after he produced a weak .551 OPS with a 39.3 percent strikeout rate over 34 games with the big club, and though he initially struggled to get going at the plate during his first two weeks at Triple-A, he's caught fire since the calendar flipped to June. While he's still struck out at a 27.8 percent clip through 17 games this month, Wallner has rediscovered his power stroke, slugging 10 home runs en route to producing a .342/.392/.808 slash line. The Twins don't have an obvious opening for Wallner in their everyday lineup at the moment, but he could be the next player in line for a call-up if the big club loses a player to the injured list.