MLB Player News

Bauers went 3-for-6 with a double, one RBI and one run scored in Friday's 7-4 extra-innings win over the Diamondbacks.

Bauers has a pair of three-hit efforts over his last four games. The first baseman is hitting .265 (13-for-49) over his last 15 contests, but he's also struck out 21 times in that span, as he's started to swing and miss more frequently. Overall, he's hitting .269 with an .864 OPS, 15 home runs, 52 RBI, 50 runs scored, 13 doubles, one triple and five stolen bases across 77 contests as a regular in the lineup for much of the campaign.

Olson went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs and a walk in Friday's 5-3 win over the Mets.

Olson snapped a 16-game power drought with solo shots in the fifth and eighth innings. It marked the second multi-homer game of the campaign for the veteran slugger, who had doubled in three of his past six games entering Friday. For the year, he's slashing .273/.345/.538 with 22 home runs, 54 RBI, 57 runs scored and two steals across 374 plate appearances.

Walker (back) is batting fourth and playing first base Friday against the Rays.

Walker was removed from Wednesday's game against the Twins with lower-back stiffness, but Thursday's off day provided enough rest for the slugger. Walker is slashing .239/.310/.469 with 19 homers, 56 RBI, 45 runs scored and a 30:81 BB:K across 361 plate appearances this season. However, after a hot start to the campaign, Walker is batting .210 with a .702 OPS and 93 wRC+ since the beginning of May.

Contreras will appeal the seven-game suspension he received Thursday, allowing him to keep playing until the appeal process is completed, Evan Drellich of The Athletic reports.

MLB issued bans for Contreras and teammate Nate Eaton (three games) along with Washington pitchers Cade Cavalli (seven games) and Miles Mikolas (five games) for their roles in a benches-clearing incident that occurred Tuesday. Contreras' suspension was set to begin Friday, but he'll remain active for the Red Sox's series opener against the Angels while he waits for appeal process to play out.

Contreras received a seven-game suspension Thursday for his actions during and following Tuesday's benches-clearing incident against the Nationals, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

The benches-clearing incident Tuesday was sparked after Cade Cavalli struck out Contreras, which led to Contreras being ejected. Along with the first baseman, Nate Eaton was also suspended for three games. On the Nationals' side, Cavalli received a seven-game suspension and Miles Mikolas a five-game ban. Unless Contreras appeals the suspension, he won't be able to play until July 11.

Manager Will Venable said Monday that Murakami (hamstring) traveled with the team for its road trip and is considered day-to-day, but the White Sox haven't yet established a timeline for the first baseman to begin a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

Per Chuck Garfien of Chicago Sports Network, Venable said last Friday that Murakami was sprinting at about "85 percent," and the 26-year-old rookie has presumably increased the intensity of his running in the week since then. Assuming Murakami does in fact require a rehab assignment prior to being activated, he likely won't be available for the White Sox until at least next week. Jacob Gonzalez has been filling in as Chicago's primary first baseman since Murakami was placed on the 10-day injured list May 30 after straining his right hamstring.

Atlanta designated Tellez for assignment Thursday.

Tellez was with the big club for three weeks but received only one start and 11 plate appearances, going 2-for-10 with a home run. He's likely to pass through waivers and would have the ability to elect free agency at that point.

Smith went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Giants.

Smith's run-scoring single was the first salvo in Arizona's attempted comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning, when the club scored its four runs. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo continues to show patience with the slumping first baseman, who entered the game on a 1-for-23 (.043) skid, by running him out there when the team faces right-handers. Smith is slashing .152/.260/.212 with one home run and six RBI since coming off a lengthy stay on the injured list in late May.

Freeman went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a stolen base and a walk in Wednesday's 7-1 loss to the Athletics.

Freeman put the Dodgers on the board with his third-inning solo shot, but that was the extent of their scoring. The first baseman has hit well lately, but it was his first homer in eight games despite six multi-hit efforts in that span. For the season, Freeman is batting .294 with an .887 OPS, 14 homers, three steals, 47 RBI, 50 runs scored, 22 doubles and a triple over 84 contests.

Clemens went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run during Wednesday's 8-3 win against the Astros.

Clemens delivered what ended up being the game-deciding runs when he clubbed his 14th homer of the season during the second inning. The super-utility man got his sixth straight start at second base and continues to be utilized all across the diamond with 48 appearances at first base and 29 in the outfield so far this year.