-
Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Up to 20 homers
Pena went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Thursday's 6-2 win over Kansas City.
Pena tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning with a lead-off, 394-foot shot off Seth Lugo. It's the 20th homer of the year for Pena, two shy of the career high that he set as a rookie in 2022. Pena's gone 8-for-13 (.615) with three long balls in his last three games, boosting his slash line to .279/.330/.477 with 74 runs scored, 51 RBI and nine steals across 443 plate appearances this season.
-
Trevor Story SS | BOS
Red Sox's Trevor Story: Swats go-ahead homer
Story went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Rangers.
Story's eighth-inning blast gave the Red Sox their only lead of the day, and it held up for a win. The shortstop is surging late in the season, hitting safely in 15 of his last 16 games. He's batted .349 (22-for-63) in that span, which coincides with his return from a sports hernia. This was his first homer since he came off the injured list. Story is batting .246 with a .635 OPS, four long balls, 28 RBI, 22 runs scored, 14 doubles and five stolen bases across 57 contests this season.
-
Xander Bogaerts SS | SD
Padres' Xander Bogaerts: Narrowly misses cycle in rout
Bogaerts went 3-for-5 with a solo homer, a triple, a double and an additional RBI in Thursday's 9-2 win over the Rockies.
Bogaerts fell a single shy of what would've been his first career cycle and the fourth in franchise history. Despite missing out on that achievement, he did become the first Padre to tally a home run and a triple in the same inning, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. The veteran shortstop also snapped a lengthy homer drought of 29 games. Through 581 trips to the plate this year, Bogaerts is slashing .226/.325/.336 with 12 big flies, 56 RBI, 21 stolen bases and 61 runs scored.
-
Carlos Correa SS | HOU
Astros' Carlos Correa: Imaging reveals inflammation
Medical imaging on Correa's surgically repaired left ankle revealed inflammation Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The Astros announced Wednesday that Correa won't be able to make it back before the end of the season because he couldn't handle the workload he took on while rehabbing his ankle, and the inflammation appears to be a consequence of overworking himself. The results of his tests didn't reveal any structural damage, however, so there's still a strong chance that he'll be ready to go by the time the 2027 season begins.
-
Colson Montgomery SS | CHW
White Sox's Colson Montgomery: Out of Thursday's lineup
Montgomery (wrist) is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers.
Montgomery was forced to exit Wednesday's contest versus the Guardians with a left wrist contusion following a hit-by-pitch. X-rays were negative, and the left-handed-hitting Montgomery might not have started Thursday against Detroit southpaw Framber Valdez regardless of the injury. Luisangel Acuna will play shortstop for the White Sox in Thursday's series opener.
-
Ezequiel Tovar SS | COL
Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar: On bench for series finale
Tovar is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres.
Tovar will hit the bench for the third time in five games while the Rockies hand Cole Carrigg a start at shortstop. Though he's maintained a .769 OPS so far in September, Tovar is slashing just .215/.262/.338 with 11 home runs and seven stolen bases over 479 plate appearances on the season.
-
Jorge Mateo SS | TB
Rays' Jorge Mateo: Sitting in Walls' return
Mateo is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mateo will hit the bench after he had started in eight of the Rays' previous nine games while going 4-for-26 with an 0:11 BB:K, three steals, three runs and two RBI. With Taylor Walls (hip) returning from the injured list Thursday and immediately stepping back into the lineup at shortstop, Mateo will likely be relegated to a utility role moving forward.
-
Cooper Pratt SS | MIL
Brewers' Cooper Pratt: Taking seat
Pratt is absent from the lineup for Thursday's tilt in Pittsburgh.
Pratt returned to action Wednesday following a one-game absence due to illness, but he'll retreat back to the bench during Thursday's matinee. Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton will form the left side of the infield for the Brewers in the series finale.
-
Jacob Gonzalez SS | PIT
Pirates' Jacob Gonzalez: Idle for series finale
Gonzalez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.
With left-hander Kyle Harrison on the bump for the Brewers, the left-handed-hitting Gonzalez will retreat to the bench for the third time in four games. Jared Triolo will spell Gonzalez at third base and will bat eighth.