MLB Player News

Smith went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the White Sox.

Smith singled in one run then got another home on a sacrifice fly. With news that third baseman Josh Jung (wrist) is set to begin a rehab assignment Friday, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, the Rangers will soon have to find a home for Smith's bat. The most logical move is to have Smith become the team's primary designated hitter. Texas designated hitters are last in the league in batting average (.197), slugging percentage (.310) and OPS (.573).

Marte went 1-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Wednesday's 9-4 win over Atlanta.

Marte joined the Reds' party with a two-run double in the fourth inning. The struggling third baseman, who is batting .181 since he completed his 80-game PED suspension, has hit safely in four straight games (4-for-17).

Suarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-6 win over Kansas City.

Suarez's second-inning blast gave Arizona an early lead and was the first of four Diamondback home runs. He's doing his best to put a season-long slump behind him; Suarez entered the month of July with six home runs and has hit that many over the last 14 games. During that span, he's knocked in 17 runs with a .692 slugging percentage and 1.014 OPS.

Vientos went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Wednesday's 12-3 win over the Yankees.

Vientos knocked in the first and last runs during the Mets' eighth-inning rally, opening the inning with a solo shot before adding a sacrifice fly. The infielder is batting .294 (20-for-68) with three homers and 10 RBI over 18 contests in July as he continues to hold down a starting role at third base. For the year, he's slashing .290/.345/.545 with 13 homers, 35 RBI, 30 runs scored, 12 doubles and no stolen bases over 220 plate appearances.

Jung (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment Friday at Double-A Frisco, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Jung had previously played in four rehab games with Triple-A Round Rock from June 16 through 20, only to be pulled off the minor-league assignment when he experienced renewed soreness in his surgically repaired wrist. Just over a month later, Jung is ready for game action again after he was able to make quick progress through his hitting progression over the past week. He'll presumably remain on his rehab assignment at least through the weekend before the Rangers assess whether he's ready to return from the 60-day injured list. Jung should eventually settle back in as the Rangers' everyday third baseman, but he could be eased back from the IL as a designated hitter initially.

Espinal will start at second base and bat eighth in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.

Espinal has now picked up just two starts in the Reds' six games since the All-Star break. He saw an uptick in playing time to close out the second half while Jonathan India managed a knee contusion, but Espinal has shifted back into a utility role now that India has seemingly moved past the injury.

Urias (neck) will start at third base and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Marlins.

Urias didn't start either of the Orioles' last two games while managing a stiff neck, but he came off the bench in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to replace Jorge Mateo (arm) and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Mateo is out of the lineup Wednesday, so Urias will step back into the starting nine to fill the final spot in the Baltimore infield.

Rendon is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

Rendon appears to be receiving a rest day while the Angels wrap up their series in Seattle with an afternoon game. Willie Calhoun will step in as the Halos' designated hitter in place of Rendon, who had started each of the first five games out of the All-Star break while going 4-for-22 with one walk, one stolen base, two RBI and one run.

McMahon (finger) will start at third base and bat fourth in Wednesday's game versus the Red Sox.

He jammed a finger in Monday's game and didn't play Tuesday, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Wednesday's series finale. McMahon has reached base 11 times over his last five contests but will bring a 23-game homerless streak into action Wednesday.

Vosler started at designated hitter in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Angels and went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run.

The new arrival delivered the only extra-base hit for the Mariners on another anemic night for the team's offense. Vosler, along with fellow Triple-A callups Tyler Locklear and Cade Marlowe, was one of three new faces in Seattle's lineup Tuesday, and it remains to be seen if he'll be able to carve out a regular role for the short term while the team deals with the absences of Julio Rodriguez (ankle) and J.P. Crawford (finger).