MLB Player News
-
Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Fill-in gig ending
Smith started at third base and went 0-for-2 with a walk in Monday's 7-0 loss to the Cubs.
Smith has been the primary fill-in at third base while Josh Jung (neck) worked his way back from the 10-day injured list. Jung's IL stint is expected to end Tuesday, when the Rangers plan to activate him. That means Smith will be free to play one of the many other positions on his resume. Smith batted .350 (7-for-20) over seven games since Jung was placed on the IL.
-
Jorge Polanco 2B | NYM
Mariners' Jorge Polanco: Continues impressive start Monday
Polanco went 1-for-4 with a two-run single and a stolen base in Monday's 4-3 win over Houston.
After missing Seattle's previous two games with side soreness, Polanco delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning to help power the Mariners to victory. The veteran switch-hitter has dealt with some nagging injuries in the early going, but he's been highly effective when healthy while hitting .417 with two long balls, 10 RBI and one stolen base over 24 at-bats (seven games).
-
Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Weeks away from rehab assignment
Lewis (hamstring) is likely three weeks away from being cleared to begin a rehab assignment, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Lewis was officially given the green light to start a running progression Saturday, but he's not yet close to ramping up his baseball activity or seeing live action. Even so, he's been encouraged by the process he's seen thus far in his rehab. "Any time they let me do something more, it's always pretty good," said Lewis. "I'll probably run three days in a row, take a break, then try to get on the bases. It's a long progression." Lewis suffered the left hamstring strain March 16 while running to first base and will presumably need at least a few games in the minors before the club considers activating him from the 10-day injured list.
-
Andy Ibanez 2B | ATH
Tigers' Andy Ibanez: Belts first home run
Ibanez went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer in Monday's win over the Yankees.
Ibanez opened the game's scoring with his third-inning long ball, which proved to be the deciding factor in the 6-2 victory. It was his first extra-base hit of the season. After starting in an 0-for-9 rut through four games, he's collected a hit in each of his last three appearances. Ibanez is slashing .158/.273/.316 through 22 plate appearances.
-
Jorge Polanco 2B | NYM
Mariners' Jorge Polanco: Returns to lineup
Polanco (side) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Monday's game versus the Astros, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
Polanco missed the previous two contests with side soreness that was originally reported as knee soreness but is feeling well enough to give it a go in the series opener against the division rival Astros. The switch hitter sports a scorching .450/.476/.750 batting line with two home runs in the early going this season.
-
Jorge Polanco 2B | NYM
Mariners' Jorge Polanco: Absence due to sore side
Mariners general manager Justin Hollander clarified Monday that a sore side is what has kept Polanco out of the lineup for the past two games, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.
Manager Dan Wilson had said it was soreness in Polanco's surgically repaired left knee that had sidelined the infielder, but evidently the skipper misspoke. Hollander expects Polanco to be back in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Astros.
-
Ernie Clement SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Ernie Clement: Taking seat Monday
Clement is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.
Clement will head to the bench for the series opener after he picked up starts in four of the past five games. Though he'll likely have a regular spot in the lineup against lefties, Clement may have to settle for more of a part-time role against right-handed pitching while the Blue Jays often deploy Will Wagner at third base and rotate other players at designated hitter in those matchups.
-
DJ LeMahieu 2B | NYY
Yankees' DJ LeMahieu: Aims to start rehab games Friday
LeMahieu (calf) has joined the Yankees on their road trip and hopes to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Friday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
LeMahieu will go through workouts with the team in Detroit and if everything goes well, he'll be cleared to play in rehab games. The veteran infielder is expected to need most, if not all, of his allotted 20 days on a rehab assignment, so LeMahieu probably won't be back from the injured list before the end of April. Once he returns, he will compete for playing time at third base with Oswaldo Cabrera.
-
Zach McKinstry 3B | DET
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Not in Detroit lineup
McKinstry is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.
The left-handed hitting McKinstry started Sunday's contest versus the White Sox against a lefty, but he'll begin this one on the bench as the Yankees turn to southpaw Carlos Rodon. Andy Ibanez is at third base and Manuel Margot will patrol right field for the Tigers.