MLB Player News

Grandal went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Thursday against the Guardians.

Grandal went deep in the fourth inning to tally his fifth home run of the season. Two of those long balls have come in his last nine starts, during which time he's also hit .250 with five RBI and four runs scored. However, that's hardly enough to cover up his disappointing .207/.309/.281 line across 330 plate appearances on the season.

Jeffers (thumb) will report to Triple-A St. Paul for a rehab assignment Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

There is still no target date in place for Jeffers to return from surgery on his right thumb, but moving his rehab assignment to Triple-A is a good sign and leaves room for a possible return before the end of the season. He is scheduled to serve as St. Paul's designated hitter Friday.

Langeliers isn't starting Thursday against the Astros.

Langeliers started the last two games and went 2-for-7 with a run, a walk and four strikeouts. Stephen Vogt will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth Thursday.

Maldonado isn't starting Thursday against Oakland.

Maldonado has hit just .091 with a run, an RBI, a walk and six strikeouts over eight games since the start of September, and he'll take a seat for the third time in the last five matchups. Christian Vazquez is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's loss to Arizona.

A number of the Dodgers' regular starters sat out the contest, but Smith started at DH and slotted into the No. 3 spot in the order. He boomed a 465-foot solo homer in the fourth inning for Los Angeles' first run, and Trayce Thompson followed with his own long ball to tie the score. Smith is up to 22 homers and a career-high 85 RBI through 513 plate appearances this season. He trails Cal Raleigh by one homer for the lead in that category among big-league backstops.

Kirk, who is not in the lineup Thursday against the Rays, is dealing with left hip tightness, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It was a bit puzzling that Kirk was held out of the lineup Thursday for a second straight day, but the hip issue explains the his absence. Kirk is considered day-to-day and could be available off the bench if needed.

Moreno is in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays.

Moreno has not appeared in a game since being brought back up earlier this month, but he will get a chance to play a full nine innings Thursday. He will line up behind the plate and hit eighth in Toronto's batting order.

Jansen is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays.

Jansen has been handling the bulk of the catching duties of late, but he will be held out Thursday with the Blue Jays playing a day game following a night game. Gabriel Moreno will replace Jansen behind the plate.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays.

Kirk did not appear in Wednesday's game, and he will open on the bench for a second straight day. No injury has been reported, so as things stands it appears he is just getting a couple days off amid a 4-for-23 stretch at the plate.

Nido went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-3 loss against the Cubs.

Nido homered off lefty starter Drew Smyly for the Mets' first hit of the game with one out in the third inning. The catcher has recorded an extra-base hit in four straight games and a home run in two straight. In addition, the 28-year-old has tallied six RBI over 21 at-bats in his last seven contests.