MLB Player News

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

The left-handed-hitting Cole will retreat to the bench for the second time in the series, this time sitting against right-hander Joe Ryan after he had been left out of the lineup Monday against southpaw Kendry Rojas. Though Jake Meyers recently returned from the injured list and will likely serve as Houston's everyday center fielder, playing time is up for grabs at the other two corner-outfield spots. Cole -- who has posted a .638 OPS in 14 games since being called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on May 4 -- will be vying for starts at either corner spot with Zach Dezenzo, Cam Smith and Brice Matthews.

Crawford is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.

The left-handed-hitting Crawford will receive a breather while the Reds send southpaw Andrew Abbott to the bump for a day game after a night game. Brandon Marsh will slide over from his usual spot in left field to cover center field in place of Crawford, who is batting .245 with two home runs, five stolen bases, seven RBI and four runs through his first 18 games of May.

Friedl is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Friedl will hit the bench for the second day in a row, this time sitting against a righty (Aaron Nola) after being held out of the lineup against lefty Jesus Luzardo on Tuesday. Blake Dunn will pick up a start in center field in place of Friedl, who has gone 2-for-28 with a 2:11 BB:K over his last nine games to bring his season-long batting line down to .178/.258/.260.

Kiner-Falefa started at shortstop and went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Royals. He was also caught stealing.

Kiner-Falefa made his first start since May 5, filling in for the injured Trevor Story (groin), who could eventually decide to undergo surgery for a sports hernia. Kiner-Falefa has started just 14 of Boston's 48 games. He's in the mix with a slew of utility infielders that could fill in for Story or slumping infielders Caleb Durbin (.169) and Marcelo Mayer (.219).

Trammell (groin) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday, going 1-for-4 with a double.

It was Trammell's first game in a month, as he's been working his way back from a left groin strain. He shouldn't require too many more rehab at-bats before rejoining the Astros' active roster. Unfortunately for Trammell, with Jake Meyers back healthy, the former is likely looking at a reserve role.

Langford will undergo another strength test on his right forearm Wednesday and could begin swinging a bat by Friday, MLB.com reports.

This continues a string of good news for Langford, who has been out since April 21 and suffered a setback in an extended spring game. The grip test the outfielder must complete uses the baseline measure he posted during spring training as a threshold, per Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News. If Langford's strength is at least 80 percent of what it was in camp, the Rangers will consider it a success and put a bat in his hands to begin a full ramp-up.

Kwan batted seventh and went 1-for-2 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Tigers.

After years serving as the Guardians' primary leadoff batter, Kwan's early-season slump prompted a recent drop in the batting order. Over the last four games he's hit either sixth or seventh, and he's been an on-base machine, going 2-for-8 with eight walks and five runs scored. He's also provided the usual Gold Glove defense in left or center field. He told Tim Stebbins of MLB.com that his swing feels better, and he's being aggressive when appropriate. To Kwan's credit, the slump hasn't led to him chasing (91st percentile), and Kwan will take the free base (15.7 BB%) if pitchers aren't in the zone.

Bleday went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-1 win over Philadelphia.

Bleday, who plated what proved to be the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, later snapped an 0-for-13 stretch with a seventh-inning double. He'd been one of the Reds' best sources off offense since his arrival in late April before the recent skid. Bleday still maintains a foothold in the starting lineup and is slashing .292/.402/.653 along with six home runs and 20 RBI through 21 games.

Carroll went 1-for-3 with a walk, a triple and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Giants.

Carroll ripped an opposite-field triple in the first inning, and following an error on a relay throw, he gathered himself to score the first run of the game. The throw plunked Carroll on the top of the head. After he initially looked to be shaken on the play, Carroll stayed in the game. The triple, his sixth of the season, extended a hit streak to eight contests, during which Carroll's gone 11-for-26 with three doubles, two triples, four home runs, two stolen bases, 10 walks, four RBI and 10 runs scored.

Tatis went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.

Tatis has gone 2-for-4 on steal attempts over the last four games. The 27-year-old picked up his first multi-hit effort over the last six contests. He's still struggling to hit for power -- he has no home runs this season and hasn't recorded an extra-base hit since his May 5 double versus the Giants. He's batting .237 with a .585 OPS, 12 steals on 18 attempts, 15 RBI and 17 runs scored across 47 contests.