MLB Player News

Mariners manager Scott Servais said Sunday that Crawford (oblique/hand) is expected to join the club at some point during the four-game series against the Yankees that begins Monday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old was unable to join the Mariners as expected in Baltimore this weekend after he was hit by a pitch on the hand during a rehab game Wednesday, but it appears his return will be delayed only a few days. Once activated from the injured list, Crawford should reclaim the starting job at shortstop from Dylan Moore.

Baez went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

A day after recording three hits, Baez one-upped himself and posted his first four-hit effort of the year. Before Friday's outburst, the shortstop was batting just .167, but the two-game flurry has pushed that up to .207. Baez will need to keep stringing together performances like this to make his season-long stats look more acceptable, though at least he's showing some signs of life, and he's been known as a streaky performer in the past who can heat up quickly.

Henderson went 1-for-3 with his MLB-leading 14th home run in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Mariners.

Not only was it flamethrowing reliever Andres Munoz whom Henderson took deep in the ninth inning, but he did so to the opposite field and over the 13-foot wall in left field in an impressive showing of power. It was the second game in a row with a homer for Henderson, who also drew a pair of walks Saturday.

Neto went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in a 9-3 win against the Rangers on Friday.

Neto broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with a 405-foot, two-run blast to left field. The shortstop has homered in consecutive contests after going deep just once through his first 13 games in May. Neto is enjoying a strong month overall, slashing .308/.345/.519 with three homers, five RBI, seven runs and two stolen bases over 15 contests.

Baez went 3-for-4 with two doubles, five RBI and a run scored in Friday's 13-0 win over the Diamondbacks.

Baez was given a vote of confidence from manager A.J. Hinch earlier this week, and he made good on it with his best game of the season. This was the shortstop's third multi-hit effort this season and the first time he's driven in multiple runs. Baez is still slashing a paltry .185/.216/.254 with one home run, 18 RBI, nine runs scored, six doubles and six stolen bases over 38 contests. He's set to remain the starting shortstop for the foreseeable future, as the Tigers have no obvious candidates to push him for playing time.

Moore went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run in a loss to the Orioles on Friday.

Moore's penchant for hard contact was on display once again, and 12 of his 23 hits this season have gone for extra bases. The veteran utility man has reached safely in five of his last seven contests, and he's generated three multi-hit efforts in the last nine games.

Henderson went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an RBI triple and a second run scored in Friday's 9-2 win over the Mariners.

Henderson led off the game with a solo shot off Bryce Miller, his 13th homer of the year, before driving in a second run with an opposite-field triple in the seventh inning. While Henderson's gotten off to a great start this year, he'd been slumping a bit coming into Friday's contest, going 0-for-11 in his prior three games. Overall, the 22-year-old shortstop is slashing .263/.339/.569 with 29 RBI, 32 runs scored and six steals across 189 plate appearances this season.

Crawford (oblique/hand) didn't travel with the team to Baltimore but has a locker in the Mariners' clubhouse, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The veteran shortstop was hit by a pitch on the hand during a rehab game Wednesday, and he's experienced some swelling and soreness. The fact that Crawford has a locker indicates he might return from the injured list this weekend.

Rafaela is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.

Rafaela will get a break as Boston kicks off its series against the Cardinals. The second-year major leaguer opened the campaign as the Red Sox's primary center fielder but has mostly played shortstop over the past month. The lineup absence marks his first time on the bench since April 11.

Caballero is not in the lineup for Friday's matchup against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Caballero has started in the majority of games for Tampa Bay at shortstop this season, but he will get a break as the Rays kick off their series with Toronto. It's the 27-year-old's sixth absences in 46 this season, and he's slashing .252/.309/.360 with 17 stolen bases and 13 RBI. Amed Rosario will get the start in place of Caballero at shortstop and against the Blue Jays.