MLB Player News

Cortes went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.

Cortes clubbed his first homer since May 24 to pull the Athletics within a run in the seventh inning. The outfielder has been seeing steady time in right field against right-handed pitchers, primarily working in a platoon with Colby Thomas while bumping Lawrence Butler into a reserve role. However, Cortes has gone just 4-for-21 (.190) in June after batting .265 in May to maintain a foothold in the lineup. Overall, Cortes is hitting .310 with an .890 OPS, six homers, 18 RBI, 16 runs scored and a stolen base across 182 plate appearances, but his consistency has faded a bit. That may not cost him playing time if Brent Rooker (knee) ends up on the injured list, but it could open the door for Butler to get more looks.

Butler went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.

Butler put the Athletics ahead in the seventh inning with his first long ball since April 29. The outfielder has slipped into a part-time role, and he's not helping his cause in June, going 3-for-18 (.167) over eight games this month, even with the homer. Overall, he's batting .165 with a .507 OPS, four homers, 16 RBI, 18 runs scored, three doubles and four stolen bases through 183 plate appearances. Butler will need to show some consistency at the plate to displace Carlos Cortes from the starting job in right field versus right-handed pitchers. There was room in the lineup for both of them Wednesday since Brent Rooker sat out due to knee soreness.

Buxton went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-4 win versus the Tigers.

Buxton's moon shot to center in the fifth gave Minnesota a 4-1 lead, which it would not relinquish. It's the 20th homer of the season for the two-time All-Star and the third time he's reached that threshold during his MLB career. The center fielder returned to the lineup Tuesday after he sustained a shoulder bruise from a collision with the outfield wall last week, and he's homered in his first two games back from the injury.

Antonacci is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

Derek Hill will receive the starting nod in left field over the left-handed-hitting Antonacci, who will hit the bench while southpaw Chris Sale toes the rubber for Atlanta. Since being called up from Triple-A Charlotte on April 15, Antonacci has gone just 3-for-33 with a 1:10 BB:K in 40 plate appearances versus lefties.

The Royals recalled Misner from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

He'll join the big club as a replacement for Kyle Isbel (foot), who was placed on the injured list. Misner has spent the whole season up to this point at Omaha, slashing .276/.373/.547 with 13 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 59 games. He could see some playing time in center field while Isbel is shelved.

The Royals placed Isbel on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

Isbel was lifted from Tuesday's game versus the Rangers due to the injury, though it's unclear whether it occurred then or is an issue that's nagged at him. It's unclear how much time Isbel might miss. Lane Thomas will likely see the bulk of the reps in center field for Kansas City while Isbel is sidelined, though Kameron Misner was recalled from Triple-A Omaha and could also be in the mix for playing time.

Varsho (wrist) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Phillies.

Varsho will be held out of the lineup for a fifth straight game, though his absence may have more to do with the matchup versus a lefty starter (Jesus Luzardo) than any major concern about his left wrist injury. After an MRI on his wrist returned negative Tuesday, Varsho was deployed off the bench as a pinch runner later that night and stole a base and scored a run in the Blue Jays' 3-2 win. He should be available off the bench once again Wednesday and could be ready to rejoin the lineup Friday, when the Blue Jays open a three-game series versus the Yankees.

Isbel (foot) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

The left-handed-hitting Isbel had to depart Tuesday's contest because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot, though there's a good chance he would not have started Wednesday even if he were healthy, as southpaw MacKenzie Gore is on the bump for the Rangers. Lane Thomas will patrol center field for Kansas City.

Larnach is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

The Twins will hold the left-handed-hitting Larnach out of the lineup Wednesday while southpaw Framber Valdez takes the mound for the Tigers. In place of Larnach, Ryan Kreidler will pick up a start in left field and will bat eighth.

Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

Perez will head to the bench for the second day in a row while the Tigers roll out a starting outfield of Riley Greene, Zach McKinstry and Kerry Carpenter from left to right. After producing a .738 OPS over 100 games in 2025, Perez has taken a big step back this season, slashing just .176/.241/.333 across 166 plate appearances. Perez could be relegated to a part-time role until his bat begins to heat up.