MLB Player News
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CJ Alexander 3B | OAK
Royals' CJ Alexander: Sent back to Omaha
The Royals optioned Alexander to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Alexander appeared in four games with Kansas City after being called up June 24 but went 1-for-8 with three strikeouts during that stretch. He'll give up his spot on the active roster to Adam Frazier (thumb), who's being reinstated from the IL.
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Josh H. Smith 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Taking seat Friday
Smith is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Tampa Bay.
Smith will get a rare day off after making 13 consecutive starts. Jonathan Ornelas will bat ninth and play third base for Friday's series opener. Over his last four games, Smith is 6-for-16 with two runs and two RBI. Per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, manager Bruce Bochy indicated that Smith felt a bit of discomfort after his last plate appearance Thursday night but didn't offer any specifics on Smith's health.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Goes on IL with wrist inflammation
The Angels placed Rengifo on the 10-day injured list Friday with right wrist inflammation.
It appears an MRI cleared Rengifo of any structural damage in the wrist, but with the All-Star break looming, the Angels have opted to go ahead and put the super utility player on the IL. Rengifo will be eligible for activation on July 14, the last day of the first half, but realistically he'll probably be held out at least through the break. He had been seeing most of his playing time lately at third base, and that position now figures to be occupied mostly by Miguel Sano.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Out of lineup, MRI results TBD
Rengifo (wrist) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game versus the Cubs, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
The Angels are still waiting on the results of an MRI on Rengifo's wrist, which he injured during Wednesday's game against the Athletics. He's currently listed as a reserve on the team's lineup card, but Keston Hiura has been added to the taxi squad and could replace Rengifo on the active roster, depending on the latter's test results.
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Josh H. Smith 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Moves to leadoff
Smith batted leadoff and went 2-for-4 in Thursday's 3-1 loss to San Diego.
Smith was moved up to leadoff, as a slumping Marcus Semien was given a rare day off. Smith continues to be a surprise and leads the Rangers with a 2.7 WAR. He should continue to see regular work at third base with Josh Jung (wrist) not expected to return until after the All-Star break.
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Lenyn Sosa 3B | CHW
White Sox's Lenyn Sosa: Stays red hot
Sosa went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI single during Thursday's 8-4 loss to Cleveland.
Sosa logged multiple hits for a fifth straight outing, saving the streak with a solo homer in the ninth inning off Nick Sandlin. The 24-year-old Sosa had gone yard only twice in his first 38 games, but he has matched that number during the hit streak. Sosa is slashing .252/.287/.392 over 151 plate appearances this season.
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Jose Miranda 3B | MIN
Twins' Jose Miranda: Scores four times
Miranda went 5-for-5 with three doubles, four runs and three RBI during Thursday's 12-3 win over the Tigers.
Despite Thursday's game being called after seven innings due to inclement weather, Miranda had his first career five-hit game, besting his previous total of three hits. The outing also extended Miranda's hit streak to eight games, a stretch in which he's gone 15-for-30 with 10 RBI. Although Miranda had been a regular piece of the Twins' lineup anyway, he'll own an even more secure role while Royce Lewis (groin) is shelved.
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Jordan Westburg 3B | BAL
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Pops solo shot
Westburg went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 7-3 loss to the Mariners.
Westburg has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, going 16-for-54 (.296) with three homers and seven RBI in that span. The infielder is up to 14 homers this season while adding 49 RBI, 42 runs scored, six stolen bases and a .280/.329/.508 slash line across 80 contests. He continues to split time between second base and third base, but he's firmly in the middle of the Orioles' lineup on a near-everyday basis, and he has the production to match that role.
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Maikel Garcia 3B | KC
Royals' Maikel Garcia: Sitting Thursday
Garcia isn't in the Royals' lineup Thursday against the Rays.
Garcia will get a day to rest Thursday after going 1-for-7 with a walk and a run scored through the first two games of the series. His absence will move Michael Massey into second base while Vinnie Pasquantino serves as the DH, putting Salvador Perez at first with Freddy Fermin behind the plate.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA
Angels' Luis Rengifo: X-rays negative, but MRI coming
Rengifo is not in the lineup Thursday in Oakland after X-rays on his right wrist came back negative, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Rengifo is set to undergo an MRI on Friday to check for structural damage. The super utility player was injured during Wednesday's loss to the Athletics while taking a swing in the ninth inning. Miguel Sano is playing third base for the Angels on Thursday.