MLB Player News
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Josh H. Smith 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Not starting Saturday
Smith is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the Twins.
Smith will retreat to the dugout after going 0-for-7 with one run scored across the first two games of the series. Carson Kelly will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth against Twins right-hander David Festa.
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Jon Berti 3B | NYY
Yankees' Jon Berti: Cleared for full activity
Berti (calf) has been cleared for full baseball activity and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, per MLB.com.
Berti's last game action took place May 24, so he'll likely need to play in multiple minor-league contests before he's deemed ready to return to the big club. The utility man slashed .273/.322/.327 with a home run, six RBI, six runs and four steals over 17 games with New York prior to landing on the IL due to a calf strain. Upon his return, Berti will probably see action at multiple positions, though he's unlikely to have an everyday role.
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Jazz Chisholm 3B | NYY
Yankees' Jazz Chisholm: Hoping to swing bat soon
Chisholm (elbow) said Friday that he expects to start swinging a bat "in a day or two," per MLB.com.
Chisholm's outlook continues to get rosier after initial fears that he may need season-ending surgery following his placement on the injured list Wednesday. The 26-year-old indicated Friday that he hasn't felt any pain since the day after spraining his UCL while sliding into home plate against the White Sox on Aug. 12. Chisholm hasn't yet resumed baseball activities, but that could be coming soon, and in the meantime he's been working with the Yankees' training staff on exercises to strengthen his shoulders. Though it may be overly optimistic, Chisholm suggested that he could be activated from the injured list as soon as he's eligible Aug. 24.
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Josh Rojas 3B | SEA
Mariners' Josh Rojas: Idle vs. southpaw
Rojas is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Pirates.
With Pittsburgh sending left-hander Bailey Falter to the mound Saturday, the lefty-hitting Rojas will retreat to the dugout. Leo Rivas will start at shortstop while Dylan Moore mans the hot corner.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Guardians' Jose Ramirez: Homers in Friday's loss
Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Brewers.
Ramirez's eighth-inning blast got the Guardians on the board, but they weren't able to complete a comeback push. The third baseman has been his usual steady self in August, hitting .321 (18-for-56) with five homers and 13 RBI over 15 contests this month. Overall, he's up to 32 homers, 100 RBI, 27 stolen bases, 92 runs scored and a .281/.335/.547 slash line through 119 games. He is the second player to reach 100 RBI this year, trailing only Aaron Judge (111) in the category.
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Ramon Urias 3B | BAL
Orioles' Ramon Urias: Drives in five in loss
Urias went 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk and five RBI in Friday's 12-10 loss to the Red Sox.
The game wasn't a true slugfest, as Urias' homer was the Orioles' only long ball. The third baseman has two homers over 13 contests in August, but he's gone a paltry 7-for-32 (.219) this month. Urias is up to seven homers, 25 RBI, 24 runs scored, seven doubles and a .244/.313/.390 slash line through 227 plate appearances. With Coby Mayo returned to Triple-A Norfolk earlier this week, Urias is in line for a starting role at third base.
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Brooks Lee SS | MIN
Twins' Brooks Lee: Begins swinging bat
Lee (shoulder) has started swinging a bat from the right side, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The 23-year-old and could begin throwing this weekend, and then swinging from the left side Monday. Lee went on the injured list Aug. 9 with right biceps tendinitis, for which he received a cortisone shot. It's not clear when he might be ready to begin a rehab assignment.
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Anthony Rendon 3B | LAA
Angels' Anthony Rendon: Exits with elbow bruise
Rendon was removed from Friday's game against Atlanta due to a right elbow contusion.
Rendon was hit by a pitch during his plate appearance in the second inning. He remained in the game to cover third base for another two frames before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the fourth. It's possible the Angels give him a day off Saturday, and while an extended absence doesn't seem likely, it can't be ruled out given Rendon's track record of fragility.
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Oswald Peraza 3B | NYY
Yankees' Oswald Peraza: Homers in season debut
Peraza went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-0 win over the Tigers.
Making his first start in the majors this year, Peraza extended New York's lead to 2-0 in the fifth inning with a solo shot off Brant Hurter. The 24-year-old slashed just .191/.267/.272 with two homers in 52 games with the Yankees last season, though he'd been swinging the bat well in Triple-A prior to his call-up, batting .291 with a 1.063 OPS and six homers in his last 15 contests. With Jazz Chisholm (elbow) sidelined, Peraza should see some playing time at third base down the stretch.
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Alex Bregman 3B | HOU
Astros' Alex Bregman: No long-term concern with elbow
Bregman said Friday he slept on his elbow wrong and hopes to miss only "a few days" after tests showed no ligament damage, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Bregman was kept out of the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox with right elbow inflammation, giving fantasy managers quite the scare in the closing weeks of the fantasy season. The third baseman put to rest any worries of a long-term absence when he spoke to the media Friday. Bregman is expected to miss only a few games, giving the inflammation in his elbow time to subside. The 30-year-old is slashing .261/.318/.445 with 19 home runs in 509 plate appearances on the season.