MLB Player News

Church went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 17-1 rout of the Cubs.

The 25-year-old outfielder got the offensive eruption started when he took David Peterson deep in the second inning, Church's eighth homer of the season and just his second off a left-hander. Three of his long balls have come in the last four games, and over 22 contests since returning from a shoulder injury in early June he's batting .281 (18-for-64) with seven total extra-base hits (three doubles, a triple and three home runs), 10 RBI and 12 runs.

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said Friday that Trout (hamstring) is improving in his recovery and is "really close" to returning from the 10-day injured list, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Trout continues to progress his recovery from a hamstring injury that landed him on the 10-day IL in mid-June. Per Greg Beacham of The Associated Press, Trout is expected to hit on the field this weekend and is on track to be back with the Angels early next week against the Rangers. Prior to being placed on the IL, Trout had an .866 OPS with seven steals, 17 home runs and 36 RBI across 335 plate appearances.

Taylor isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers.

Taylor has notched a base hit in each of his last four games, but the Friars will keep him on the bench to begin Friday's contest. Gavin Sheets will start in left field while Taylor sits, putting Manny Machado in the DH spot and Sung-Mun Song at third base.

Robles (forearm) will start in center field and bat eighth against the Blue Jays on Friday.

Robles was removed from Thursday's game against the Angels after taking a pitch to his right forearm. X-rays came back negative, and the veteran outfielder has been cleared for Friday's game. Robles should see an uptick in playing time for at least the next week after the Mariners placed Julio Rodriguez (concussion) on the 7-day injured list.

Mesa will start in left field and bat sixth against the Astros on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Chandler Simpson was initially slated to start but was scratched from Friday's lineup due to sore right index and middle fingers, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Mesa will now start in left field while Cedric Mullins and Jonny DeLuca man center and right, respectively.

Simpson was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Astros due to sore right index and middle fingers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Simpson jammed his fingers while sliding into second base during Thursday's game against the Royals. The move is being labeled as precautionary, which suggests Simpson could be available off the bench Friday and back in the lineup for Saturday's contest. Victor Mesa will take over in left field for Friday's series opener.

The Mariners placed Rodriguez (concussion) on the 7-day injured list Friday.

The move to the 7-day IL was an expected one once Rodriguez entered the league's concussion protocol following Thursday's game against the Angels. He's eligible to be reinstated from the IL on July 10, but whether Rodriguez returns before the All-Star break will depend on how he progresses. In a corresponding move, the Mariners selected Miles Mastrobuoni's contract from Triple-A Tacoma and transferred Cooper Criswell (shoulder) to the 60-day IL.

Edman isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against San Diego, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Edman will move to the bench to begin Friday's contest after going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's win. While he sits, Alex Freeland will start at the keystone and bat ninth.

The Mariners are expected to place Rodriguez on the 7-day concussion injured list Friday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez entered the league's concussion protocol following Thursday's game against the Angels, after he was hit in the back of the helmet by a throw from Nolan Schanuel in the first inning. Rodriguez will need to move through multiple checkpoints before being cleared but will be eligible to be activated off the IL before the All-Star break. A corresponding move has yet to be announced, though Kremer notes that Miles Mastrobuoni has a locker ahead of Friday's series opener against the Blue Jays.

Mesa is not in the Rays' starting lineup against the Astros on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Even with right-hander Spencer Arrighetti on the mound for the Astros, the lefty-hitting Mesa will be on the bench for Friday's series opener while Jonny DeLuca, Cedric Mullins and Chandler Simpson start in the outfield from left to right. Mesa is slashing .188/.282/.333 with one steal, three home runs and eight RBI across 79 plate appearances this season.