MLB Player News
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Luis Urias 2B | ATH
Athletics' Luis Urias: Making third straight start
Urias is starting at second base and batting ninth Wednesday against the Rangers.
The 27-year-old has worked as a reserve infielder early in the season with four starts each at second and third base, but he should be in line for more consistent playing time after Max Muncy was demoted Wednesday. Zack Gelof (wrist) doesn't appear particularly close to returning from the IL, so at-bats at the keystone should mostly be up for grabs. Urias has certainly earned the additional opportunities with a .304/.370/.565 slash line through 27 plate appearances.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Back in lineup Wednesday
Rengifo (mouth) is starting at third base and batting seventh against the Pirates on Wednesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Rengifo was not in the Halos' starting lineup for Tuesday's game after getting a root canal, though he did come in to pinch hit in the eighth inning. He's back in the lineup for the third game of the series and will face off against Pirates southpaw Andrew Heaney. Rengifo has started the year slashing .215/.250/.316 with eight runs scored, one home run and seven RBI in 84 plate appearances.
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Miles Mastrobuoni 3B | SEA
Mariners' Miles Mastrobuoni: Not starting against lefty
Mastrobuoni is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Mastrobuoni had started in each of the Mariners' last four matchups versus right-handed pitching, but he'll hit the bench Wednesday while the Red Sox send southpaw Sean Newcomb to the bump. The Mariners will likely continue to deploy Mastrobuoni in a timeshare at third base with Ben Williamson until Jorge Polanco is cleared to play the field again while he manages a side injury.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Gaining traction in center field
Baez will start in center field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Padres.
Baez will pick up his sixth straight start and his third in a row in center field, a position he hadn't played professionally prior to this season. The 32-year-old looks on track to serve as the Tigers' preferred option in center until the team gets one of Matt Vierling (shoulder), Wenceel Perez (back) or Parker Meadows (arm) back from the injured list. Baez is hitting .274 on the season, but he has yet to record a home run or stolen base and has logged just four RBI and five runs over 66 plate appearances.
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Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Rehab assignment imminent
Lewis (hamstring) is expected to begin a rehab assignment later this week, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
Lewis did sprints Monday and ran the bases Tuesday to test out his left hamstring, coming out of the workouts with no issues. He's also been doing on-field batting practice and infield drills for a couple weeks. It's not clear how many rehab games Lewis will require, but he looks to be tracking toward an early May season debut.
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Jace Jung 2B | DET
Tigers' Jace Jung: Not starting versus lefty
Jung is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Padres.
It's southpaw Kyle Hart on the mound for the Padres, so the left-handed-hitting Jung will begin the festivities on the bench. Andy Ibanez will play third base and bat cleanup for Detroit.
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Cam Smith 3B | HOU
Astros' Cam Smith: Could see time in center field
Smith took flyballs in center field prior to Monday's game against the Blue Jays and the Astros are considering using him at the position, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Smith has exceeded expectations with how well he's taken to right field, a position he had never played before. The transition has been so seamless that the team is mulling using Smith in center field on days when it's looking to inject more offense into the lineup. The idea of Smith playing center field "is in its infancy," per Rome, and may never happen, but if it does, Zach Dezenzo would likely play right field those days, with Jake Meyers on the bench.