MLB Player News

Chang (wrist) could begin a rehab assignment Wednesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Chang underwent surgery in late April, but he resumed baseball activities over a week ago and is now on the verge of appearing in a game for the first time in nearly a month. If all continues to go well, he could rejoin the big club in late May or early June.

Lopez was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo by the Blue Jays on Monday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Lopez will provide some infield depth while Santiago Espinal (hamstring) is out. He has managed just a .533 OPS with Buffalo this season.

Witt is batting sixth for the Royals on Monday versus the Tigers.

Witt has been the team's leadoff hitter almost exclusively this season and hadn't batted below third previously this year. The young infielder has managed just a .226/.267/.410 slash line this season and has a .581 OPS across his last 10 contests. Lefty-hitting Nick Pratto has been elevated to the leadoff spot for Kansas City against righty Michael Lorenzen.

Duran is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Pirates.

Duran will get a day off after he went 5-for-9 with a homer, a double, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base over the three-game series with the Rockies. Duran has quickly become a regular in the Rangers' lineups, batting .314 with five home runs, five doubles, 11 RBI, 13 runs scored and a stolen base over 70 at-bats in 18 games in May. Josh Smith will take over at designated hitter and bat eighth in the series opener with Pittsburgh.

Barger, who has been sidelined with Triple-A Buffalo since April 28, had his right elbow checked out last week by Dr. Keith Meister in Texas and there was no structural damage found, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

This is positive news for Barger, who is now rehabbing at the Blue Jays' spring training facility in Florida. He was off to a slow start to the season prior to suffering the elbow injury. Barger is slashing .237/.333/.329 with one home run, one steal and a 31 percent strikeout rate in 20 games.

Smith hit a solo home run in his only at-bat in Sunday's 13-3 win over the Rockies.

Smith served as a defensive replacement for Marcus Semien at second base in the blowout win. In his lone at-bat, Smith took Alan Trejo deep in the eighth inning. With the return of Corey Seager, there's no longer a clear path to playing time for Smith, so he's returned to a utility role. The 25-year-old is slashing .222/.385/.389 with three homers, four RBI, 14 runs scored, a stolen base and three doubles through 92 plate appearances.

Seager went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 13-3 win over the Rockies.

This was Seager's second three-hit effort in a row, and he's homered in each of those contests. The shortstop was back at designated hitter Sunday after playing the field over the previous two contests. He's up to a .382/.455/.673 slash line with three homers, 12 RBI, 12 runs scored and seven doubles through 15 games this season.

Anderson is out of the starting lineup against the Royals on Sunday, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

It's a day of rest for Anderson after the shortstop went hitless in the first two games of the series against Kansas City. Romy Gonzalez will hit ninth and line up at shortstop for Sunday's finale against the Royals.

Mateo is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Mateo has a .109/.138/.127 slash line and 30.5 percent strikeout rate through 16 games in May and will head to the bench Sunday. Joey Ortiz will take over at shortstop and bat ninth in the series finale at Toronto.

Duran went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Saturday's 11-5 win over the Rockies.

After contributing an RBI single to the Rangers' four-run first inning, Duran slugged a no-doubter to left field in the fifth off Fernando Abad for his seventh homer of the year. The 23-year-old has been inserted as the DH in two straight games with Corey Seager back at shortstop, and it looks like Bruce Bochy will try to keep Duran's bat in the lineup on an everyday basis -- a fairly easy decision for the manager considering Duran's .328/.366/.627 slash line in May.