MLB Player News

Duran went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Saturday's 18-3 victory over the Athletics.

Duran's first long ball of the year came in the eighth inning, when the game was already out of reach. The second-year player now has six career homers after being called up in June. The former top-100 prospect is also on a four-game hit streak, so he seems to be coming into his own at the big-league level.

Chang went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's loss to the Brewers.

Chang has four hits this season, and three of them have left the yard. He's also driven eight runs despite a .111 average. The infielder has a part-time role in Boston with just 36 at bats on the season.

Pena went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-3 win over Atlanta.

Pena manufactured a run in the eighth inning, as he dropped down a bunt, stole second and came around to score on a Corey Julks single. The bunt single helped Pena to his first three-hit game of the season. It was a good bounce-back performance after he struck out three times Friday. The second-year shortstop has his average up to .226 after a slow start to the season.

Correa went 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in Saturday's 10-4 loss to Washington.

Correa singled in a run in the fifth to make the score 5-2 Nationals. The infielder has scuffled out of the gate, and this was his first multi-hit game since last Friday against the Yankees. It should only be a matter of time until Correa starts piling up the hits again -- he hasn't hit worse than .264 in the last four years.

Mateo (hip) was a late scratch from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Mateo was originally scheduled to return to the lineup for the first time since leaving Wednesday's game with right hip discomfort, but the late scratch suggests that Baltimore wants to give the shortstop at least one more day of rest before return. Gunnar Henderson will start at shortstop and hit eighth against the Tigers in Mateo's absence.

Mateo (hip) will bat sixth and play shortstop Saturday against the Tigers, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Mateo hadn't played since leaving Wednesday's game against Washington with right hip discomfort, though he was available off the bench Friday. He's gotten off to an excellent start, hitting .362 with three homers and eight steals through 16 games.

Volpe went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's win over Toronto.

It's the second homer of the season for Volpe, and it was a big one, as it broke a scoreless tie in the eighth inning off Yimi Garcia. The talented rookie got off to a dreadful start with a .129 average over his first 10 games, but he's been much better at the plate since then, pushing his season average up to .200, and he appears to be thriving in the leadoff spot. There will be some highs and lows with Volpe over his first year of MLB action, but there should be enough good to justify the frustrating spurts where he struggles.

Baez went 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a stolen base in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Orioles.

Baez didn't have a great game, but he was the lone offensive bright spot for the Tigers on a night the team mustered only five hits. The hit also extended his hitting streak to seven games, so it looks like the shortstop is getting going a little bit, though he's still batting only .200 for the season.

Mateo (hip) said he is available off the bench Friday against Detroit, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Mateo added that he should be feeling 100 percent by Saturday, indicating he may return to the lineup then. The 27-year-old shortstop is off to an incredible start to the season and holds a 1.683 OPS over the past week.

Smith isn't starting Friday's game against Oakland.

After a 1-for-3 performance in his last game, Smith will sit against the left-handed JP Sears. Ezequiel Duran will start at shortstop in Smith's place Friday and bat seventh.