MLB Player News

Kwan (neck) is leading off and starting in center field Sunday versus the Blue Jays.

Kwan didn't start Friday and was then a late scratch Saturday due to nick stiffness. However, the issue seems to have been minor given the outfielder's return one day later. Kwan will look to get back on track at the plate after going 2-for-18 over his previous seven contests.

Pinango is starting in left field and batting seventh against Cleveland on Sunday.

Pinango got off to a nice start with Triple-A Buffalo this season, posting an .858 OPS with three homers, 13 RBI and two stolen bases over his first 22 games. He was summoned to the big-league club for the first time Saturday after Nathan Lukes (hamstring) was placed on the injured list. Pinango will get his first chance to show off his skill set with the Blue Jays against Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi.

Grisham went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and two walks in an 8-3 win against the Astros on Saturday.

Grisham was a catalyst from the leadoff spot, reaching base three times. He put the Yankees on the board with a solo shot in the third inning for his fourth homer of the campaign, all of which have come over his past 11 games. Grisham is batting a meager .169 on the season, but he has a .330 OBP thanks largely to a 19.8 percent walk rate.

Adell went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to the Royals.

Adell accounted for the only Angels run with a solo shot to center field in the fourth inning. The homer also extended the outfielder's streak of producing an RBI to three games. Adell isn't on pace to approach the career-high 37 long balls he hit last season, as he's gone deep a modest four times through 28 contests this year. However, he's shown improvement in other areas, as his .265 batting average is on pace to be a career-best mark, and his 19.8 percent strikeout rate would easily be the lowest of his career.

Fraley went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Twins.

Fraley gave the Rays a 2-0 lead they wouldn't relinquish with a 401-foot blast in the fourth inning. He was later replaced by Jonny DeLuca, who entered to face lefty Taylor Rogers in the seventh. On the season, the 30-year-old Fraley is slashing .240/.309/.440 with two homers, four RBI, four runs scored and two steals across 55 plate appearances.

Rodriguez went 3-for-6 with a two-run home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 11-9 win over the Cardinals.

The two teams combined for eight homers on the afternoon, and Rodriguez got the fireworks started by crushing a Matthew Liberatore slider into the second deck in the first inning. Rodriguez had a sluggish start to the season, but he's quickly shaken that off and is batting .352 (19-for-54) with two homers, three steals, seven runs and eight RBI over the last 14 games.

Fraley (shin) will start in right field and bat fifth Saturday against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Fraley missed the Rays' last two games after fouling a pitch off his leg Tuesday, but he's now feeling well enough to return to the starting nine. The 30-year-old outfielder has collected a hit in six of his last eight games and is slashing .261/.320/.435 with a homer, two RBI and two runs in that span.

Valera will start in left field and bat fifth against the Blue Jays on Saturday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Valera was originally in line to have a day off Saturday, but he will join the starting nine to replace Steven Kwan, who was scratched with neck stiffness.

Kwan was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against Toronto with a stiff neck, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Manager Stephen Vogt said that Kwan's absence Friday wasn't due to an injury, but a neck issue will prevent the 28-year-old from playing in Saturday's contest. Angel Martinez will shift to center field with Kwan out, opening up left field for George Valera.

Valera isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.

Valera will take a seat Saturday after making four straight starts, during which he went 3-for-16 with four RBI and a run scored. While he rests, Angel Martinez, Steven Kwan and David Fry will start across the outfield.