MLB Player News

Witt went 1-for-6 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Athletics.

The homer was Witt's second in the last four games. He's notched five RBI in that span, and he's scored at least one run in each of his last seven contests. The shortstop is slashing .234/.276/.445 with six homers, 15 RBI, 22 runs scored and eight stolen bases through 33 games this season.

Neto (finger) is expected to get a day off Sunday versus the Rangers, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Neto went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and a walk in Saturday's loss to the Rangers, starting a third straight game with a bruised finger. Manager Phil Nevin said after the game that he wants to give Neto a day off Sunday, leaving Gio Urshela and Luis Rengifo as options that could see a start at shortstop in the series finale with Texas.

Pena went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and one run scored in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Mariners.

Pena had gone five games without an extra-base hit prior to Saturday. This was his second three-hit game of the season, though he's also racked up six strikeouts over his last four contests. The shortstop is slashing .252/.300/.458 with six home runs, 18 RBI, 22 runs scored, nine doubles and six stolen bases through 33 games.

Velazquez (undisclosed) was placed on the minor-league 7-day IL on Tuesday, per the Salt Lake Bees' official site.

The exact nature of Velazquez's injury hasn't been clarified, though the issue appears to have occurred on a swing he took in the fifth inning during a game April 28. Velazquez left that contest early and hasn't played since. The shortstop is slashing .182/.316/.348 with two homers, six RBI and five stolen bases over 82 plate appearances with Salt Lake this season.

Volpe went 2-for-5 with a stolen base Friday in a loss to the Rays.

Volpe has been perking up at the plate of late, recording multiple hits in two of his past three contests. He's also swiped three bags over that span, and he's now a perfect 11-for-11 on theft attempts this season. Yankees manager Aaron Boone recently called Volpe "one of the best baserunners" he's ever seen, per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, and the rookie is living up to that high praise with his speed and savvy on the basepaths thus far.

Baez went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Friday's 5-4 win over the Cardinals.

Baez didn't homer in all of April, but he's now gone deep three times over four games in May. He also has three multi-hit efforts in his last five contests. For the season, the shortstop is slashing .260/.322/.394 with 15 RBI, 14 runs scored and two stolen bases through 115 plate appearances.

Witt is absent from the Royals' lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.

It's a rare day off for the young infielder. Maikel Garcia will handle shortstop while Witt gets some rest, with Hunter Dozier covering third base.

Mateo is batting leadoff and playing shortstop for the Orioles on Friday in Atlanta, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

It's the first time Mateo has ever batted leadoff for the Orioles and just the third time during his time with the club that he's batted higher than fifth. He's earned it by putting up a robust .968 OPS this season. Austin Hays has mostly batted leadoff lately versus lefties, but he's out with a finger injury.

Witt went 3-for-5 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 13-10 loss to the Orioles.

Witt delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning, but he was caught stealing immediately afterwards, limiting the Royals' chance to rally. He's now 8-for-10 on the basepaths this season. The shortstop has gone 5-for-14 (.357) with three extra-base hits over three games in May, but on the season he's slashing .237/.281/.435 with five home runs, 13 RBI, 21 runs scored, five doubles and three triples through 32 games as the Royals' main leadoff hitter.

Mateo went 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in Thursday's 13-10 win over the Royals.

Mateo had gone five games without a steal prior to Thursday. He's hit safely in nine of his last 10 contests, going 10-for-37 (.270) with three home runs and three steals in that span. For the season, the shortstop is slashing .321/.372/.595 with six homers, 11 thefts, 19 RBI and 23 runs scored through 96 plate appearances.