MLB Player News
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Key cog in winning rally
Smith went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Dodgers.
Smith returned to the lineup after missing four games due to a thumb injury, starting at first base and batted third. With Texas trailing by a run entering the bottom of the ninth inning, he led off the frame with a double before Adolis Garcia belted a walk-off home run. The double extended Smith's hit streak to five games, and overall he's slashing .341/.438/.512 through 48 plate appearances. He's helped fill the void in left field caused by the injury to Wyatt Langford (oblique), who could be activated ahead of Sunday's game. While there isn't a permanent home in the starting lineup for Smith, Bochy might consider using him at DH more often, given Joc Pederson's epic struggles to begin the season.
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Ben Williamson 3B | TB
Mariners' Ben Williamson: Swats first career homer
Williamson went 2-for-6 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 8-4 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays.
Getting the start at third base and batting eighth, Williamson forced extras by leading off the seventh inning with a no-doubt homer to left field off Jose Berrios, tying the game at 3-3 and giving the 24-year-old his first career long ball. Williamson has started four of five games at the hot corner since receiving his first big-league promotion, batting .250 (5-for-20) with two RBI and four runs scored.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Back in lineup
Smith (thumb) will start at first base and bat third Saturday against the Dodgers.
Smith missed four consecutive games while managing a bruised thumb, but he seems to be fully recovered entering Saturday's contest. He'll make his first start back at first base, which will allow Dustin Harris to start in left field and bat seventh.
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Andy Ibanez 2B | ATH
Tigers' Andy Ibanez: Goes deep in win
Ibanez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-3 win over the Royals.
Ibanez launched his second home run of the season in the fourth inning, but he was then lifted for a pinch hitter in the fifth. The utility player is struggling a bit to begin the year with a .171 average and .627 OPS across 13 games. Ibanez can provide some fantasy value in spurts, though his role in Detroit comes with plenty of day-to-day volatility.
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Cam Smith 3B | HOU
Astros' Cam Smith: Breaks out with two-homer game
Smith went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Friday's 6-4 win over the Padres.
Both long balls came off Kyle Hart, as Smith crushed a three-run blast in the second inning that left his bat at 107.8 mph before dropping a solo shot into the Crawford Boxes in the fourth. The 22-year-old rookie appears to be finding his footing in the majors, and since getting a couple days off to reset earlier in April, he's batting .290 (9-for-31) over the last nine games with all three of his big-league homers and 10 RBI.
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Nicky Lopez 3B | ARI
Angels' Nicky Lopez: DFA'd by Halos
The Angels designated Lopez for assignment Friday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Lopez signed a major-league contract with the Angels in late March, but he's appeared in just six games for the Halos while going 0-for-6 at the plate. If he goes unclaimed off waivers or isn't traded, Lopez will have the option of remaining in the organization in Triple-A or exploring other opportunities by entering free agency. Zach Neto (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.
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DJ LeMahieu 2B | NYY
Yankees' DJ LeMahieu: Cleared for rehab assignment
LeMahieu (calf) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
LeMahieu has been playing in extended spring training contests and is ready to test things out in a formal game setting. He will require a lengthy rehab assignment, perhaps needing the full 20-day allotment. Oswaldo Cabrera has been serving as the Yankees' primary third baseman with LeMahieu out and there's no guarantee that LeMahieu will be handed regular playing time upon his return.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Absence continuing Friday
Smith (thumb) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers.
It's the fourth straight absence from the lineup for Smith as he continues to manage a bruised thumb. There's been no indication that the 27-year-old will require a trip to the injured list, but it may be considered given how much time he's already missed. Dustin Harris is receiving another start in left field for the Rangers.
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Dylan Moore 2B | TEX
Mariners' Dylan Moore: Absent from lineup
Moore is not in the lineup for Friday's game in Toronto.
Moore is coming off a monster series against the Reds, having gone 7-for-12 with two home runs and two stolen bases. Despite that, he will begin the series opener versus the Blue Jays on the bench. Miles Mastrobuoni will start at second base and hit seventh for the Mariners.