MLB Player News

Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

Kepler will be held out of the lineup for the second time in the series while Arizona goes with Lourdes Gurriel in left field and Ketel Marte in the designated-hitter spot. Since serving an 80-game suspension and being cleared to make his Arizona debut June 25, Kepler has produced a .554 OPS across 38 plate appearances. Until he begins to improve his offensive output, Kepler could have to settle for a part-time role.

Troy (shoulder) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

Ryan Waldschmidt will receive the start in center field while Arizona gives Troy some extended time to recover from the shoulder contusion he suffered during Saturday's 9-2 win. Manager Torey Lovullo said after the game that Troy wouldn't require imaging on his shoulder, so the rookie outfielder is expected to be good to go coming out of the All-Star break.

Gilbert will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Rockies.

Gilbert didn't start in either of the Giants' ensuing two games after he went 4-for-4 in a loss to the Rockies on July 5, but he's gone on to crack the lineup in each of the five contests after that. His increased playing time has coincided with Victor Bericoto landing on the injured list with an oblique injury, which has opened up an extra spot in the outfield. Gilbert will likely fade into a reserve role once any of Bericoto, Harrison Bader (foot) or Matt Chapman (abdomen) returns from the IL.

Matthews was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the second inning Sunday following a collision with the center-field wall while pursuing a flyball in the bottom of the first, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

With two outs in the inning, Matthews was unable to corral a Josh Jung deep fly, which ultimately fell in for a triple after Matthews' back and head collided with the outfield wall. Matthews was able to make the relay throw into the infield and remained in the game while Houston recorded the final out of the frame, but he was pulled from the contest before his first turn in the batting order came up. Taylor Trammell pinch hit for Matthews and will presumably cover center field for the remainder of the contest. The Astros should provide further word on the nature of Matthews' injury later Sunday.

Osuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

Osuna will remain on the bench for a third straight game. After filling the strong side of a platoon in the outfield for the better part of the last month, Osuna looks like he'll be stuck in a reserve role after Wyatt Langford returned from the injured list Thursday.

Matthews will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Matthews will cover center field for the fifth time in six games, with two of his starts during that stretch coming against right-handed pitchers. He had previously been handling a short-side platoon role, but Matthews looks like he's supplanted the struggling Taylor Trammell as the preferred option in center.

Trammell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

On the bench for the fifth time in six games, Trammell looks to have ceded his role as the Astros' primary center field to Brice Matthews. Dating back to June 13, Trammell has produced a weak .128/.190/.359 slash line while striking out at a 31 percent clip over 18 games.

Waldschmidt (hand) will start in center field and bat ninth Sunday against the Dodgers.

The 23-year-old is back in the lineup as expected Sunday after being hit by a pitch Friday and sitting out Saturday's contest. Waldschmidt was called up from Triple-A Reno on Thursday after spending a nearly a month in the minors. In his first taste of the majors this season, Waldschmidt has a .254/.309/.351 slash line with nine doubles, a triple, five steals, eight RBI and 11 runs in 34 games.

Roden will start in right field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Angels.

Roden was left out of the lineup for Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Guardians after being called up from Triple-A St. Paul that day, but he's picked up starts in each of the Twins' ensuing five games. He's thus far gone 3-for-11 with two walks and three RBI while slotting between the sixth and eighth spots in the lineup. Roden should get the chance to play regularly against right-handed pitching while Byron Buxton (hip) is on the shelf.

Meckler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.

Meckler will head to the bench for the Angels' final game before the All-Star break, ending a streak of three consecutive starts in which he went 6-for-11 to boost his batting average to .307 through 42 games with the big club. Heading into the second half, Meckler may need to stay hot at the plate in order to ward off Josh Lowe for playing time, although the trade deadline could create room in the lineup for both outfielders.