MLB Player News

Naylor is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies.

Naylor started the previous 10 games but will sit Friday after he went 5-for-34 with one extra-base hit during that stretch. Jhonkensy Noel will start at first base against Philadelphia lefty Cristopher Sanchez.

Smith is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Smith will hand first-base duties over to Romy Gonzalez on Friday with southpaw Nestor Cortes on the mound for the Yankees. Since the All-Star break, Smith is 3-for-14 with three walks and three strikeouts.

Mountcastle went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Marlins.

Mountcastle plated the winning run in the 10th inning, as his line drive knocked in initial runner Jordan Westburg. Mountcastle was then thrown out trying to take second base when Cedric Mullins was also thrown out at home on the same play. Over his last 10 games, Mountcastle is 12-for-38 (.316) with just two extra-base hits and two RBI. The first baseman is slashing .271/.310/.441 on the year, adding 12 home runs, 44 RBI, 45 runs scored, 23 doubles and three stolen bases through 93 contests.

Bell went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in a loss to the Orioles on Thursday.

Baltimore built a 6-0 lead before Bell put Miami on the board with a sixth-inning solo shot to center field. The Marlins later strung together a ninth-inning rally, with Bell's single plating the tying run to send the game into an extra frame. Bell has gone deep in three of his past four contests and is batting .467 (7-for-15) with three homers, five RBI and four runs over that span.

Wade isn't in the Giants' lineup for Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Left-hander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) will be making his season debut Thursday, so the lefty-hitting Wade will step out of the lineup. David Villar will fill in at first base and bat sixth.

The Giants recalled Villar from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

With Wilmer Flores (knee) headed for the injured list, the Giants will call upon Villar to provide the team with additional infield depth. In six games with San Francisco this season, the 27-year-old has gone 5-for-17 with a home run and four RBI, and he's also posted an .857 OPS through 311 plate appearances in Triple-A. He'll presumably serve as the Giants' primary option at first base against left-handed pitching until Flores returns from the IL.

The Giants placed Flores on the 10-day injured list Thursday with right knee tendinitis, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Flores just returned from the same injury a little over two weeks ago, but it appears he might not have ever totally recovered from the issue. He'll be eligible for activation in early August, but the Giants might take things slower this time in hopes that Flores can get over the hump with the injury.

Pasquantino went 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBI in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Pasquantino appears to be taking inspiration from teammate Bobby Witt -- this was the former's second three-hit effort in the last three games. Pasquantino has gotten to turning around his season in July, batting .304 this month, though he's still lacking in power with a .377 slugging percentage over 17 games in that span. For the year, the first baseman has a .258/.320/.425 slash line with 11 home runs, 66 RBI, 44 runs scored, 23 doubles and two triples over 99 contests.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Thursday that Casas (ribs) has been taking full batting practice and could be ready to begin a rehab assignment by the end of the week, Chris Henrique of MLB.com reports.

The Red Sox have given mixed messages on the status of Casas' progress in recent days, but Breslow's statement Thursday certainly qualifies as the most favorable update that's been offered. If Casas is indeed ready for rehab games in the coming days, he could have a shot to return from the 60-day injured list by early or mid-August. The first baseman has been sidelined since late April with a cartilage tear in his left ribcage.

Canha is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians.

Canha will cede his spot in the lineup to Zach McKinstry, who gets the nod at third base while Matt Vierling shifts to the outfield. After going 0-for-22 over a six-game stretch from June 25 through July 2, Canha has bounced back over the ensuing three weeks, slashing .306/.390/.500 over 11 games. As a veteran on an expiring contract, Canha could be a prime candidate to get moved elsewhere ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline while the 50-53 Tigers likely find themselves in the sellers camp.