Higashioka is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt in Kansas City.

Higashioka started the first two games of the series at catcher, so he'll get a break during Thursday's afternoon tilt. Elias Diaz will be behind the dish and bat eighth for the Rangers.

Perez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Perez was in the lineup the last two days after missing the previous two contests with a thumb injury. He will take a seat for Thursday's afternoon tilt in what looks to be a routine day off. Carter Jensen is catching and Jac Caglianone is getting a day at designated hitter for the Royals.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals.

Getting the start at DH in his second game since being activated from the injured list, Alvarez supplied all the Mets' offense with a two-run shot off Andre Pallante in the fourth inning, his first long ball since April 11. Alvarez has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games sandwiched around his nearly month-long stay on the IL due to knee surgery, slashing .306/.342/.472 over that stretch.

Diaz went 1-for-1 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Royals.

Diaz entered the game in the eighth inning after starter Kyle Higashioka was removed for a pinch runner and played a vital role in the win. He went the other way on a 3-2 pitch low and away in the zone to drive in the game-winning run before scoring the insurance run. He also threw out a would-be base stealer in the eighth. Diaz was recently signed by the Rangers when the club placed Danny Jansen (forearm) on the 10-day injured list. He's appeared in two games since joining the organization while serving as the backup to Higashioka.

O'Hoppe went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Astros.

O'Hoppe was the only player from either team to log a multi-hit effort in the game. That included his fifth-inning blast, which briefly put the Angels ahead 2-0. The catcher is batting .255 with two homers and eight RBI over his last 15 contests. For the season, he's hitting just .212 with a .606 OPS, three long balls, 16 RBI, 16 runs scored and five doubles over 155 plate appearances.

Sanchez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics.

Sanchez collected his second multi-hit effort in a row. It's also his second straight game with a homer after he went 27 contests without a long ball. The backup catcher is batting .219 with an .845 OPS, seven homers, 19 RBI, 20 runs scored, four doubles, one triple and no stolen bases over 130 plate appearances this season. While his power looks to be coming back, Sanchez is no real threat to William Contreras' playing time.

Ward went 1-for-3 with a grand slam Wednesday in a loss to the Pirates.

Ward gave the Dodgers a 6-1 lead with his grand slam to right field in the sixth inning, though Pittsburgh made a late comeback to secure the victory. Ward could have had the opportunity to drive in another run with a runner on second base in the eighth, but he was pinch-hit for by Alex Call. Regardless, Ward has shown ample power since his most recent call-up May 28, mashing three homers and driving in 10 runs over seven contests. He's working in the strong side of a left-field platoon, starting at that position each of the Dodgers past five games against a right-handed starter.

Devers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 11-10 win over the Nationals.

After going 0-for-11 in 14 plate appearances over his previous three games, Devers launched a home run to center field in the eighth inning and drew a walk in the ninth before coming around to score. The veteran infielder has struggled through 10 outings this month, batting .122 with seven runs scored, three RBI and two home runs across 48 plate appearances. Overall, he's slashing .233/.292/.415 with 33 runs scored, 33 RBI and nine long balls in 295 plate appearances this season.

Mead went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Giants.

The 25-year-old has emerged as a key part of the Nationals' surprisingly potent offense while becoming the team's primary option at third base. Over the last 15 games, Mead is slashing .259/.344/.574 with five of his 10 homers on the season, and 12 of his 29 RBI.

The Padres signed Pratto to a minor-league contract Wednesday.

Pratto had been with the Rangers on a minor-league pact but was released after slashing .237/.287/.473 with five homers in 26 games at Triple-A Round Rock. The 27-year-old has not seen any action at the big-league level since 2023 and is merely organizational depth.

Vargas started at first base and went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 8-0 loss to the Marlins.

Vargas started for the first time since last Thursday, when he was removed from a game due to a thigh injury. He'd exclusively come off the bench since then, but Vargas has been replaced as the primary starter at first base by prospect LuJames Groover. Vargas is 1-for-18 over eight June games.

Burger went 2-for-2 with a home run, a walk and two RBI in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Royals.

Burger entered the game as a pinch hitter for Joc Pederson (hip) in the fifth inning. After drawing a walk in his first plate appearance, Burger launched a game-tying solo homer in the seventh inning before adding a sacrifice fly in the eighth. After opening June with a 0-for-17 slump, he has collected six hits over his last three games, driving in a run in each. Burger is now slashing .245/.300/.432 with 11 home runs, 12 doubles, 41 RBI, 31 runs scored and one stolen base across 267 plate appearances.

Keaschall is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Detroit.

Keaschall will receive some routine rest during Thursday's matinee. The Twins will roll out Royce Lewis at second base in the series finale.

Bazzana went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the Yankees.

Bazzana's first-inning single snapped an 0-for-17 stretch, which is part of a greater slump for the second baseman -- over the last eight contests, Bazzana is 4-for-31 (.129). He's managed to steal a couple of bases during the skid and is up 10 (on 12 attempts) across 39 games.

Holliday went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Wednesday's 7-2 victory over the Mariners.

Holliday broke the game open with his grand slam off Domingo Gonzalez with two outs in the seventh inning. It's the third career grand slam and third homer this season for Holliday. Coming into the day, he'd gone just 3-for-18 (.167) over his previous six contests. Since returning from the IL on May 19, Holliday is slashing .220/.319/.424 with 10 RBI, 10 runs scored and three stolen bases.

Lowe went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI, a walk and a run scored Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Lowe kicked off the Pirates' dramatic late-game rally in the seventh inning by delivering a two-run double, and he later came around to score. He has only one multi-hit game across his last 13 starts-- he's hit .166 in that span -- but he's still managed to tally 10 RBI and nine runs scored in that span.

Peraza went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Astros.

Peraza tried his best to manufacture a run after his seventh-inning single, but he was left stranded. He's maintained decent stats at the plate in June, going 8-for-36 (.222) with two extra-base hits, six RBI and three steals over nine contests this month. On the season, he's been a bit better, hitting .267 with a .755 OPS, seven home runs, nine steals, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored, eight doubles and two triples across 63 games.

Torres went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double and an RBI in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Twins.

Torres has been heating up lately with three three-hit performances across his last six games, and he's batting a robust .417 during the stretch. Overall, the veteran infielder now has a .283/.398/.379 slash line in 39 contests, and after missing about a month due to an oblique strain, he once again looks like a reliable fantasy contributor near the top of Detroit's lineup.

Bohm went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 7-4 win over Toronto.

After a brutal start to the season, Bohm has turned it around at the dish. Since the start of May, the third baseman is batting 37-for-129 (.287) with seven home runs, six doubles and 21 RBI. For the year, Bohm is slashing .226/.283/.366 with eight long balls, nine doubles and 34 RBI over 258 plate appearances.

Karros is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Cubs.

Karros started at third base in each of the Rockies' previous four tilts, but he'll get a break during Thursday's series finale. Willi Castro will man the hot corner and bat second for Colorado.

The Astros optioned Whitcomb to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Whitcomb homered in Wednesday's extra-innings loss to the Angels but finds himself back in the minors a day later. The Astros are off Thursday, so they will likely announce a corresponding roster move prior to Friday's game in Kansas City.

Garcia is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rangers.

Garcia returned from a hamstring injury to start each of the previous four contests, but he'll grab a seat during Thursday's matinee. Nick Loftin will cover third base for the Royals.

Chapman went 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs, an additional run scored and three total RBI in Wednesday's 11-10 win over the Nationals.

The veteran third baseman launched solo shots off Foster Griffin in the sixth inning and Paxton Schultz to lead off the eighth, with the latter blast sparking a stunning rally from an eight-run deficit for the Giants. Chapman's bat has heated up with the weather, and while he has just six homers on the season, five of them have come in June. He's slashing a massive .469/.548/1.000 to begin the month, with 18 RBI in only 10 games.

Whitcomb went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Angels.

Whitcomb got the start at shortstop to give Jeremy Pena a rest day. Whitcomb had the Astros' lone hit against Angels starter Reid Detmers, a solo shot in the sixth inning. For the season, Whitcomb is batting just .130 with a .558 OPS, two homers, five RBI, two runs scored and a 1:11 BB:K over 24 plate appearances. He is expected to fill a utility role off the bench most of the time during this stint in the majors.

Smith (glute/wrist/illness) moved his rehab from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Round Rock.

Smith started his rehab assignment, playing two games for Frisco before spending the last two contests with the Express. He's 3-for-12 with two walks, a home run, three RBI and three additional runs scored across the four appearances. Smith played back-to-back days in Triple-A on Tuesday and Wednesday. He played all nine innings in each game, logging a start apiece at first base and third base.

Williams went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.

Williams was playing in his 99th major-league Wednesday and finally clubbed his first homer, a sixth-inning blast off Brandon Sproat. Since he was traded from the Pirates on May 16, Williams has appeared in 16 games, batting .212 with a .599 OPS, four RBI, four runs scored, two doubles and no stolen bases over 35 plate appearances. He's part of a three-man battle for two spots in the lineup on the left side of the infield right now -- Williams has started six of the last eight games at shortstop but could cede some time to Max Muncy, who was activated from the injured list Monday after recovering from a broken hand. Zack Gelof's usage at third base is likely to impact Muncy's playing time, which could trickle down to Williams depending on who's got the hot bat.

Lopez went 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored during the Marlins' 8-0 win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Lopez continued a great season with his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, his longest streak of the season so far. The shortstop increased his league-leading batting average to .342 and his hit total to 91.

McGonigle went 0-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Twins.

While he didn't record any hits, McGonigle was still able to get on base frequently due to his good eye at the plate. The rookie now has 42 walks this season in 65 games versus only 38 strikeouts, and his .394 on-base percentage reflects his patient approach. McGonigle is locked in as Detroit's primary leadoff hitter, and he's having a tremendous debut campaign from a fantasy perspective.

Pena isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena will take a day to regroup after going 0-for-10 with two walks, four strikeouts and two steals over his last three games. While he rests, Shay Whitcomb will make a start at shortstop and bat seventh.

Griffin (elbow) did some flat-ground throwing from out to 90 feet Wednesday at about 75 percent intensity, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Griffin threw for the first time since he landed on the 10-day injured list May 31 due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. He also took part in fielding drills without throwing, which is something the rookie has done since first going on the IL. Griffin remains without a timeline to rejoin the Pirates' active roster, but more clarity on that front should become available as he continues to ramp up his throwing.

McCarthy (illness) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cubs.

McCarthy had to be scratched from Wednesday's lineup because he's under the weather, and he's still not feeling well enough to play in Thursday's series finale. Consider him day-to-day. Sterlin Thompson will play left field for the Rockies in McCarthy's stead.

Robert (spine) said Thursday that his back has been responding better in recent days and he expects to return before the end of this season, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.

Robert was administered a series of injections in late May to combat the lumbar spine disc herniation that's kept him out of commission since late April. Those injections seem to have helped, and he might be cleared to run on the field before the end of this week. However, a timetable for Robert's return remains fuzzy, and the outfielder conceded that he might have to play with some discomfort when he does make it back.

Waldschmidt is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Miami.

It looks to be a routine day off for Waldschmidt, who had started each of the previous eight tilts. Jorge Barrosa will patrol center field and bat ninth as the Diamondbacks look to avoid the sweep.

Roden (shoulder) has gone 4-for-9 with two doubles, four walks, one stolen base, one run and one RBI in three games between the rookie-level Florida Complex League and Single-A Fort Myers since beginning his rehab assignment last Saturday.

Roden remains on Triple-A St. Paul's 7-day injured list, but he looks to be closing in on a return to the Twins' top affiliate around the middle of June now that he's began taking part in game action in the lower levels of the minors. The 26-year-old outfielder produced an .889 OPS in 19 games with St. Paul before landing on the shelf April 24 due to a right shoulder labrum tear.

Isbel has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 tear of a portion of his left plantar fasciitis.

It's unclear what this means for Isbel's timetable or if he will undergo surgery, but the nature of the injury points to an extended absence. Isbel was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday and could be a candidate to eventually shift to the 60-day IL. Lane Thomas and Kameron Misner are in line for increased opportunities in center field for the Royals while Isbel is on the shelf.

Wood went 1-for-4 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 11-10 loss to the Giants.

The star outfielder got the offensive fireworks started on the day by taking Robbie Ray deep in the third inning. Wood has gone yard five times in the last 15 games, giving him 18 homers on the season, and over that stretch he's slashing .333/.441/.614 with four steals, nine RBI and 17 runs.

Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Waldichuk posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 9.1 innings over his five relief appearances with Washington before landing on the injured list April 13 after suffering a left forearm injury. The southpaw received a couple of medical opinions in the week following the injury and ultimately decided to undergo Tommy John surgery for the second time in just under two years, after he previously had the procedure in May 2024. Waldichuk also underwent a flexor tendon repair as part of the operation.

Lugo's (head) CT scan came back negative.

Lugo was involved in a scary incident during Wednesday's outing versus the Rangers when he was struck in the forehead by a line drive off the bat of Brandon Nimmo. He got to his feet quickly and seemed alert but was pulled from the game. Per Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Lugo has some swelling on his forehead and his left (non-throwing) elbow is sore from falling, but the pitcher feels OK, all things considered. It looks like Lugo has dodged a serious injury and could make his next scheduled start Monday versus the Nationals, but he'll continue to be monitored in the coming days.

Verlander (hip) struck out three and allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks across 5.2 innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo.

After tossing five shutout innings and 64 pitches in his first rehab outing with Toledo on June 2, Verlander wasn't quite as sharp in the second start of his rehab assignment. Though he was able to stretch out to 86 pitches and averaged 92.9 mph with his four-seamer during the outing, Verlander struggled to execute, particularly with his slider. He allowed four home runs in the start, three which came off sliders and traveled at least 400 feet. Despite the shaky performance, Verlander could still be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list during next week's series in Houston to make his first start with the Tigers since March 30. He's expected to throw a bullpen session in front of the Tigers' brass over the weekend before a decision is made on his next step.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday that Mize (adductor) will likely be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday in Cleveland, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Mize will need to complete a bullpen session Thursday with no issues and bounce back well Friday before officially being cleared to take the ball Sunday. The right-hander looked good during what's likely to be his lone rehab start, tossing five frames of one-run ball with five strikeouts with Single-A Lakeland on Tuesday. Mize has been out since late May with right adductor inflammation.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch confirmed Thursday that Skubal (elbow) will rejoin the rotation Saturday in Cleveland, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

All told, Skubal will have been sidelined only 38 days after having surgery in early May to remove a loose body from his left elbow. The left-hander was excellent in his lone rehab start, striking out six over five scoreless frames for High-A West Michigan on Sunday. Skubal threw only 54 pitches in that outing, so he will be relatively limited from a workload perspective against the Guardians.

Stephen was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list at Double-A Akron on Wednesday with right elbow soreness, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Stephen last pitched Sunday for Akron, throwing just one scoreless inning before exiting the game. He's in the midst of his first full season in the organization after he was acquired from the Blue Jays last season at the trade deadline as the return for Shane Bieber. Stephen has logged a 3.44 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and 23 walks over 12 starts (55 IP) for the RubberDucks.

The Rangers recalled Curvelo from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Curvelo was just sent down Sunday, but he's back to replace the injured Jalen Beeks (back). The right-handed Curvelo has made seven appearances out of the Texas bullpen this season, logging a 4.91 ERA and 4:2 K:BB over 7.1 frames.

The Rangers placed Beeks on the 15-day injured list Thursday with low-back spasms.

Beeks last pitched Tuesday in Kansas City, serving up a solo home run among three hits while recording just two outs. He'll be eligible for activation later this month, but it's unclear at this point how long he might be out.

Hurt (1-1) took the loss and was charged with a blown save Wednesday against Pittsburgh, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks over one-third of an inning.

Hurt was summoned to begin the eighth frame with the Dodgers up 6-4. He quickly gave up the lead by issuing two walks, which were followed by a Tyler Callihan three-run homer. Hurt then surrendered two more hits before being replaced by Jack Dreyer, and the only out Hurt recorded came on a caught-stealing. The poor outing was the continuation of a rough stretch for Hurt, who has given up eight earned runs over his past 3.1 frames spanning four appearances. Prior to that, the right-hander had been extremely effective, pitching to a 1.00 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with a 21:4 K:BB through his first 18 innings of the season.

Peralta (1-0) earned the win over Cincinnati on Wednesday, allowing one hit and issuing one walk in one scoreless inning.

Peralta entered in the ninth frame with the score tied 4-4. He allowed two batters to reach base, but a double play helped him get out of the inning unscathed. Peralta was then awarded the win after Fernando Tatis hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the frame. Peralta hadn't been involved in a decision prior to Wednesday, though he's picked up two holds to go along with a 2.30 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 20:15 K:BB over 31.1 innings across 27 appearances.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday that Jansen (pelvis) remains on track to be activated from the 15-day injured list Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Hinch admitted that Jansen was "rusty" during his one and only rehab outing with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, yielding three earned runs while recording only two outs. However, the right pelvic inflammation that sent Jansen to the IL last month was not an issue, so the veteran reliever will return Friday in Cleveland when first eligible. Jansen has had an up-and-down 2026 campaign with a 4.80 ERA and four blown saves, but there's a good chance he'll get another opportunity to serve as the Tigers' primary closer.

Jansen (pelvis) retired two batters -- one via strikeout -- and yielded three earned runs on two hits, one walk and a wild pitch during his rehab appearance Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo.

Jansen took the hill for his first game action since May 27, when he exited early in an appearance against the Angels due to a right groin injury, which was relabeled as pelvic inflammation upon his move to the injured list a day later. The right-hander was able to put away the first two batters he faced on just four pitches, but he then allowed the next three hitters to reach base before he was lifted from the contest. Jansen spotted just 12 of his 22 pitches for strikes on the evening, so the Tigers may want to see him show more efficiency in another rehab appearance before bringing him back from the IL.

Pederson (hip) is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Kansas City.

Pederson had to be lifted from Wednesday's game with left hip discomfort, so it's not a surprise he's not ready to play in Thursday's matinee. Whether Pederson will wind up requiring a stint on the injured list is unclear. Brandon Nimmo is getting a day at designated hitter for the Rangers, and Ezequiel Duran will play right field in the series finale.

Suarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Padres.

Suarez extended the Reds' lead to 4-2 in the eighth inning with his solo shot off Ron Marinaccio, his fifth long ball this year and just his second in his last 24 games. Suarez has gone 3-for-9 with a pair of extra-base hits in his last two contests after going just 3-for-36 (.083) in his previous 10 games. Overall, the veteran is slashing .211/.282/.354 with 18 RBI and 14 runs scored across 163 plate appearances this season.

Smith served as the designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Wednesday's 8-0 loss to Miami.

Smith made a fourth consecutive start as the designated hitter and is 2-for-11 with three walks and an RBI during that stretch. As to be expected, all four starts have come against right-handers. The Diamondbacks have used LuJames Groover and Ildemaro Vargas at first base during those contests. Since being activated from the 60-day injured list, Smith is batting .105 (2-for-19).

Eldridge went 1-for-4 with a walk, a grand slam and a second run scored in Wednesday's 11-10 win over the Nationals.

Per Maria Guardado of MLB.com, the 21-year-old slugger's blast put him in the record books as the youngest player in history to hit a walk-off grand slam, breaking a mark that had been held by Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente since 1956. Eldridge has caught fire and bashed his way into an everyday role over the last couple weeks, slashing .426/.500/.766 across his last 13 games with seven doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and 15 runs.

Ohtani took a no-decision Wednesday against the Pirates, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out four in 6.2 innings. He also went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run.

Remarkably enough, Wednesday marked the first time this season that Ohtani gave up more than two runs in a start. Even so, the two-way phenom has now recorded three consecutive quality starts and has attained this feat in all but one of his 11 outings. Ohtani will carry a sparkling 1.06 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 73:21 K:BB over 67.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance at home against the Rays. As a hitter, he's now slashing a robust .299/.413/.527 with 12 homers, 39 RBI, six stolen bases and 46 runs scored over 294 plate appearance.

Pederson was removed from Wednesday's game against the Royals with left hip discomfort, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Pederson went 0-for-1 with a walk before leaving Wednesday's contest in the fifth inning. It remains unknown whether his hip will cause him to miss additional games, but the Rangers may provide more information after the game.