MLB Player News

Velazquez entered as a pinch runner in Tuesday's win over the White Sox, logging a stolen base and scoring a run.

Velazquez hasn't gotten a start since Saturday, but he's still making an impact, swiping a bag as a pinch runner twice in the past three days. The shortstop has demonstrated excellent acumen on the basepaths over the past two seasons, collecting 23 thefts on 25 attempts in 135 games. However, he's batting just .198 during that span, which has prevented him from holding onto an everyday role.

Bichette went 3-for-4 with a double in Tuesday's loss to the Giants.

The Jays managed only eight hits in total, and Bichette's efforts led to no run production in a 3-0 loss. That's been an all-too-common story for the shortstop lately. Bichette extended his hitting streak to 12 games Tuesday, a stretch in which he's slashing .360/.373/.540 but has just four runs and four RBI.

Correa is not in Wednesday's lineup against Atlanta.

Correa is hitting .216 with five home runs and 24 strikeouts in 22 games this month. Kyle Farmer will start at shortstop and hit cleanup against lefty Kolby Allard.

Duran went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Tigers.

Duran launched his 10th homer of the season as part of Texas' five-run eighth inning. He's hit safely in eight of 10 games with multiple hits in seven of them. During that stretch, Duran is batting .425/.439/.725 with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, three RBI, a stolen base and seven runs scored. The 24-year-old infielder/outfielder has a firm grasp on the left field job, a role that had been filled by a rotation of players when the season started.

Smith started at third base and went 0-for-2 in Tuesday's 8-3 win over Detroit.

Smith gave Josh Jung a breather at third and was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning after two plate appearances. Wednesday's start was his first in 12 days.

Smith will receive a second opinion on his back injury, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Smith was placed on the 10-day injured list by the A's on June 17 with a back strain, and the infielder remains without a timeline for a return. The second opinion from medical experts will likely go a long way towards determining when Smith is able to get back on the diamond, and there should be an update on his status in the coming days.

Diaz is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Yankees.

Tyler Wade will start at shortstop and bat eighth for the Athletics. Diaz has been getting more playing time with Kevin Smith (back) still sitting on the injured list, but the 32-year-old holds a weak .206/.264/.278 slash line in 197 plate appearances this season.

Chang (wrist) could resume his minor-league rehab assignment later this week, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Chang was pulled out of action at Triple-A Worcester earlier this month due to renewed soreness in his surgically-repaired left wrist, but he's made significant progress in recent days. Sidelined since late April, he could be an option again on the Red Sox infield before the All-Star break.

Smith, who last started a game June 15, has made nine plate appearances during the month of June.

Smith made 65 plate appearances in April then 47 in May before seeing his opportunities dwindle in June. With shortstop Corey Seager back from injury and Ezequiel Duran taking hold as the primary left fielder, Smith has been limited to an occasional start, a pinch-hit or pinch-run role or an injury fill-in.

Crawford went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and two total runs in Monday's 8-4 win over Washington.

Crawford opened the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff homer to right field and reached base three more times in the contest. He's gone deep twice in three games since returning from a brief hiatus due to a shoulder injury. Crawford has never hit double-digit homers in a season, but he's on pace to do so this year with six long balls through 71 contests.