MLB Player News

Witt went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and two steals in Sunday's loss to the Blue Jays.

Witt and Edward Olivares were the only two Royals' hitters with multiple hits on the day. Witt came into Sunday's contest just 3-for-27 over his last six games but did have his second multi-hit effort in eight games this month. His steal total is now up to 41, which is currently tied with CJ Abrams for the fourth-most in baseball. He became just the second Royals' player ever to record 40 stolen bases at just age 23 or younger. Witt's been one of the few bright spots in what's been an otherwise disappointing season for the franchise. He's now slashing .272/.312/.494 with 28 home runs, 86 RBI, 80 runs and a 31:112 BB:K in 613 plate appearances.

Seager went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Sunday's 9-4 win over the Athletics.

Seager has gone 9-for-38 (.237) over his first nine games in September, but five of his hits in that span have been homers. He's also produced seven RBI. It's not all that surprising that his consistency at the plate has faltered recently -- he's still hitting an extraordinary .336 on the year through 99 contests while boasting a 1.049 OPS. He hasn't hit better than .307 in any of the previous six years. The shortstop has reached the 30-homer mark for the second year in a row while adding 87 RBI, 76 runs scored, 36 doubles and two stolen bases.

Neto (back) was activated from the 10-day injured list but is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.

The 22-year-old has been sidelined since Aug. 3 due to a back injury, but he'll rejoin the active roster after a four-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake. Neto should work as the Halos' primary shortstop down the stretch, though it's Kyren Paris starting Sunday's series finale versus Cleveland.

Allen is not in the lineup Sunday against the Rangers.

Kevin Smith will start at shortstop and bat seventh for the visiting Athletics. Allen went 0-for-6 with two walks in the first two games of the three-game weekend series and is slashing just .208/.254/.272 across 273 total major-league plate appearances this year.

Reyes (elbow) will be activated from the 10-day injured list Monday, MLB.com reports.

Reyes kicked off a rehab assignment Saturday and will remain with Triple-A Worcester through the weekend. He's been an unlikely factor for the Red Sox in 2023, posting a .303 average in 51 games, but as Boston's playoff hopes dim, the 30-year-old is not expected to have a large role to finish out the season.

Story went 3-for-6 with a double, two RBI, one run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's loss against the Orioles.

Story's three hits Saturday matched his total from the previous 38 at-bats (11 contests) while the stolen base was his second in three games. Since returning from the injured list Aug. 8, the 30-year-old shortstop is batting .190 with one home run, seven RBI, seven runs and seven steals across 105 plate appearances.

Ornelas was recalled by the Rangers on Saturday.

Ornelas got into two games off the bench for the Rangers in August but did not receive a plate appearance. Given that he owns a modest 83 wRC+ in 108 Triple-A games this season, it's unlikely he's been called up for his bat. J.P. Martinez was optioned in a corresponding move.

Baez will sit Saturday against the White Sox.

Baez has seemingly played himself out of an everyday role down the stretch, as he finds himself on the bench for the third time in the last six games. He hasn't hit like anything close to an everyday player this season, slashing .221/.267/.319. Zack Short will serve as the shortstop Saturday.

Bichette won't start Saturday's game against the Royals.

Bichette returned Friday from a minimum-length stay on the injured list due to a strained quadriceps, and the Blue Jays won't ask him to start on back-to-back days just yet. Ernie Clement starts at shortstop Saturday, but Bichette should resume his everyday role once he puts the injury further behind him.

Bichette went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Friday's 5-4 win over the Royals.

In his first game action since Aug. 27, Bichette drove in the Jays' first run of the night in the sixth inning before smacking a single in the seventh as part of a four-run rally that put his team in the lead for good. The shortstop had been sidelined with a strained quadriceps, but he looked 100 percent Friday and ready to help Toronto try to lock up a playoff spot. On the season, Bichette is slashing .315/.344/.489 with 18 homers, 55 runs and 64 RBI in 115 games, but his three steals in six attempts are a disappointment for those with fantasy shares in the 25-year-old.