MLB Player News

Smith went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, a run and three RBI in Thursday's loss to the Phillies.

Smith was a big part of a Dodgers comeback from a 7-1 deficit that ultimately came to nothing, doubling in two runs in the sixth inning and driving home another with a single in the eighth. The three-hit performance was the first for the backstop this season, and this was the fourth time he has driven in multiple runs in a contest. Smith is slashing .260/.365/.397 with two homers, 16 RBI, 13 runs and an 11:15 K:BB across 85 plate appearances on the campaign.

Bemboom went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals.

Bemboom hasn't done much with his playing time as backup to Robinson Chirinos. The home run Thursday was Bemboom's first of the season, and he's added two doubles among his six hits. It accounted for his first RBI as well. The catcher is slashing .140/.229/.256 through 49 plate appearances.

Godoy was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul following the completion of Wednesday's suspended game on Thursday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Godoy came off the bench during the suspended game but never game to the plate. The 27-year-old has appeared in one game between his two stints in the majors this season, and he'll return to St. Paul, where he has a .241/.313/.276 slash line in eight contests.

Sanchez isn't starting Thursday's regularly scheduled game against the Astros.

Sanchez went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout during Wednesday's suspended game, and he was replaced behind the dish late in the blowout loss. He'll get a breather in the regularly scheduled matchup while Ryan Jeffers starts behind the plate and bats seventh.

Maldonado isn't starting Thursday's regularly scheduled game against Minnesota, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Maldonado remained behind the dish to close out Wednesday's suspended game, and he finished the win by going 1-for-5 with a run and a strikeout. Jason Castro will take his place behind the dish and bat eighth.

Ford is hitting .215/.414/.308 with a homer and four steals across 18 games this year for Single-A Modesto.

That OBP pops off the page, courtesy of his impressive 23.5 percent walk rate, but Ford is also striking out a lot (27.6 percent). The pop he showed in rookie ball last year hasn't materialized so far this season, and it's worth wondering if or when the Mariners will ultimately move him from behind the plate to better take advantage of his speed. All in all, there's a lot of development left to go for last season's No. 12 overall draft pick, but he's got great upside.

Manager Buck Showalter said McCann is being held out of the lineup for Thursday's game in Washington due to a sore left wrist, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

The injury explains why McCann is on the bench for a second straight day while Tomas Nido picks up another turn behind the dish. Showalter didn't seem too concerned about the injury to McCann's non-throwing wrist, and the Mets believe the backstop will be ready to resume catching duties during the team's upcoming weekend series with the Mariners.

Bethancourt will start at catcher and bat sixth in Thursday's game in Detroit, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

With top catcher Sean Murphy receiving a breather on a getaway day, Bethancourt will check in behind the dish after manning first base in Wednesday's 9-0 win. Bethancourt was one of several Oakland hitters to enjoy a big day at the dish in the victory, as he went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.

Murphy isn't starting Thursday's series finale against the Tigers, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

After starting each of the team's last five games, Murphy will get a breather Thursday. He reached base in all five of those contests, going 5-for-17 with three doubles, five runs and two RBI. Christian Bethancourt will draw the start behind the plate and bat sixth.

McCann is out of the lineup for Thursday's game in Washington, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McCann will sit for the second game in a row and may have fallen into a timeshare at catcher with Tomas Nido at this stage. Though both catchers' defensive abilities is valued more than what they contribute at the plate, the Mets likely expected better from McCann than the career-worst .552 OPS he's provided through 64 plate appearances this season.