MLB Player News

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

Clase will head to the bench Monday after he went 0-for-5 with a walk and three strikeouts while starting in two of the Blue Jays' three games against the White Sox over the weekend. Myles Straw will receive the nod in left field in the series opener, but Clase will likely rank as the Blue Jays' preferred option at the position until Jesus Sanchez (ankle) makes his return from the injured list.

Freeman (neck) will begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Monday.

Freeman has been cleared for game action after requiring surgery in late June to repair a herniated disc in his neck. He should eventually continue his rehab assignment at a higher-level affiliate, but the 25-year-old won't be guaranteed to rejoin the major-league roster once he's activated from the 10-day injured list.

Mangum is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.

The switch-hitting Mangum has been much more effective against right-handers (104 wRC+) than lefties (83 wRC+) over his first two big-league seasons, so he'll hit the bench Monday while the Yankees send southpaw Ryan Weathers to the bump. With Mangum taking a seat, Billy Cook will receive the start in center field and will bat ninth.

Benge is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.

Benge will sit for the first time since May 7 after going just 3-for-22 at the dish across his last six contests. The return of Luis Robert from the injured list has created a bit of a crowd in the Mets outfield, but Benge shouldn't be in any danger of losing out on significant reps.

Tucker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Tucker will head to the bench for the first time in the second half after he went 2-for-13 with two strikeouts in the Dodgers' three-game series against the Yankees over the weekend. Alex Call will draw the start in right field in place of Tucker, who has thus far maintained good health during his first season in Los Angeles but has produced a disappointing .702 OPS, by far the lowest mark of his career since his abbreviated 28-game rookie campaign with the Astros in 2018.

The Mets reinstated Robert (back) from the 60-day injured list Monday. He'll start in center field and bat seventh in the Mets' series opener in Milwaukee.

New York optioned Eric Wagaman to Triple-A Syracuse to clear room on the active roster for Robert, who will rejoin the big club for the first time since late April. Robert received the green light to come off the IL after he went 10-for-31 (.323 average) with two home runs, one double and three walks over eight rehab games between Syracuse and Double-A Binghamton. The 28-year-old started exclusively in center field during his rehab assignment, but he could end up seeing some time at designated hitter while the big club looks to keep playing time in the outfield available for all of Juan Soto, A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge. Benge will be the odd man out of the outfield Monday while Jorge Polanco occupies the DH spot.

Halpin will start in center field and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Twins.

Halpin will occupy center field for the fifth time in past six games after he recorded exactly one hit in each of his last four starts while chipping in a pair of steals. He appears to have a grip on a strong-side platoon role in the Cleveland outfield for the time being, though Halpin will be at risk of a move to the bench or a demotion to Triple-A Columbus once Angel Martinez (foot) returns from the 10-day injured list.

Watson is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins.

Watson had started 10 of the last 11 contests, and the one he didn't start during that stretch was the second leg of a doubleheader. He'll get a breather for Monday's series opener while Chase DeLauter handles right field and Rhys Hoskins is deployed at designated hitter.

The Twins activated Buxton (hip) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Buxton had been shelved for nearly two weeks after aggravating a right hip injury, but he's ready to go for the start of the Twins' four-game series in Cleveland that begins Monday. He skipped a rehab assignment, as the Twins were satisfied with the work Buxton put in in recent days between his hitting and defensive drills. Tristan Gray was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move.

Manager Walt Weiss said Sunday that Acuna (hamstring) isn't guaranteed to be activated from the 10-day injured list before Atlanta's homestand ends Thursday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. "He's still got some days ahead of him," Weiss said. "We just want to make sure he doesn't have to try to figure it out or struggle up here. A guy like Acuna... moves the needle for our team. But we have to use good judgment there."

Acuna is now five games into a rehab assignment and has gone 2-for-12 with a home run and 4:3 BB:K between stops in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and Triple-A Gwinnett. After serving as a designated hitter in the first four contests, Acuna played right field for the first time Sunday with Gwinnett, and the organization could keep the five-time All-Star at Triple-A for a few more games in order to pick up more defensive reps. Until Acuna is deemed ready to rejoin the big club, Atlanta will get by with a combination of Brewer Hicklen and Eli White in right field.