MLB Player News

Smith went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-4 loss to the Cubs.

Smith started the scoring with a blast off Jameson Taillon in the third inning. Prior to Friday, Smith had gone 0-for-9 with a walk and two strikeouts over his previous three games. The catcher is batting a solid .266 with a .729 OPS, three homers, 14 RBI, 11 runs scored and no stolen bases over 24 contests this season. The Dodgers have a good problem in trying to balance playing time between Smith and Dalton Rushing, who has been even better at the dish with seven home runs in just 35 plate appearances. That's a battle that Smith is winning for now, though he may get more off days during his slumps if Rushing's bat stays hot as well.

Bailey is not in the Giants' starting lineup against the Marlins on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Eric Haase will start behind home plate and bat ninth while catching pitches from Adrian Houser for Friday's series opener. In 15 games since April 1, Bailey has gone 7-for-45 (.156) with one steal, one home run, three RBI and a 3:8 BB:K.

The Blue Jays acquired MacIver from the Rangers on Friday in exchange for cash considerations.

MacIver will now be a part of Toronto's organization after he was designated for assignment by Texas on Thursday, and he has been subsequently been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. He gives the Blue Jays additional depth at the catcher position while Alejandro Kirk continues to recover from a fractured left thumb and with C.J. Stubbs (undisclosed) on the 7-day minor-league injured list. Tyler Fitzgerald was DFA'd by the Blue Jays in a corresponding move.

Sanchez is not in the Brewers' starting lineup against the Pirates on Friday.

Sanchez has been seeing more time as the Brewers' designated hitter in the absence of Christian Yelich (groin), but the former will be idle for the start of Friday's contest while Tyler Black operates as the team's DH and bats in the cleanup spot. Over his last 10 games, Sanchez has gone 8-for-35 (.229) with two home runs and eight RBI.

Wells isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

Wells will take a seat on the bench to begin Friday's contest after going just 1-for-12 with two walks and an RBI over his last four games. J.C. Escarra will pick up a start behind the dish as a result and bat seventh.

Ruiz is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.

It's been a virtually even split in playing time at catcher between Ruiz and Drew Millas. After Ruiz started each of the previous two contests, it will be Millas behind the dish in Friday's series opener.

Jeffers went 1-for-4 with a grand slam and two walks in a loss to the Mets on Thursday.

Jeffers came up with a clutch hit in the top of the eighth inning, belting a grand slam to left field to tie the score 7-7. Minnesota eventually went on to lose the game, but it was a big moment for the backstop, who had just two hits over his previous 19 at-bats prior to the homer. On the season, Jeffers is slashing .267/.405/.483 with three long balls, 16 RBI, 12 runs and a 13:14 BB:K through 74 plate appearances.

The Rangers designated MacIver for assignment Thursday.

MacIver has spent the entire season at Triple-A Round Rock, slashing .170/.333/.255 with a home run, six RBI and six runs scored through 60 plate appearances. He'll end up as the roster casualty to make room on the 40-man roster for Peyton Gray, whose contract was selected from Round Rock on Thursday.

Teel did not begin a rehab assignment earlier this week as initially anticipated, as his right hamstring is "still grabbing at him a little bit" when he runs, Connor McKnight of the Chicago Sports Network reports.

Teel had been scheduled to kick off a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Monday, but that's been pushed back. The catcher noted that his hamstring strain -- which he initially suffered in mid-March while playing for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic -- is "getting better every day," but it just isn't progressing as quickly as hoped. Edgar Quero and Reese McGuire will continue handling catching duties for the White Sox until Teel is ready.

Quero isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Quero will grab a seat on the bench Thursday after going 0-for-7 with two walks and two RBI over his last three games. Reese McGuire will handle catching duties instead and bat ninth.