MLB Player News

Allen was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Allen has made more starts at shortstop than any other Athletic this season, but even Oakland wasn't willing to put up with his .476 OPS any more. Kevin Smith has been recalled to take Allen's spot on the roster and should see ample time at shortstop along with Aledmys Diaz.

The Athletics recalled Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Smith was optioned to Las Vegas on May 14 after recording just a .521 OPS in the majors through 82 plate appearances. Since returning to the minors, he's slashing .268/.302/.488 with two homers and eight RBI and figures to start primarily at shortstop while in Oakland. Nick Allen was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Franco went 2-for-4 with a double in Monday's 4-1 win over the Red Sox.

Franco picked up where he left off Monday after missing Tampa Bay's previous two games with a hamstring injury. The 22-year-old shortstop has hits in nine straight contests, going 17-for-35 (.486) with a 1.176 OPS in that span. Franco has emerged as an elite fantasy option this season -- he's slashing .308/.372/.498 with seven homers, 21 stolen bases, 29 RBI and 37 runs scored through 253 plate appearances.

Rocchio was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Monday.

Josh Bell is expected back from paternity leave Tuesday against the Red Sox, so Rocchio is headed back to the minors. The rookie infielder has had a few stints in the big leagues but hasn't been given much of an opportunity to this point.

Bichette went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base in Monday's loss to the Astros.

The 25-year-old shortstop continues to tear the cover off the ball. In 33 games since the beginning of May, Bichette has 16 multi-hit performances while slashing .348/.378/.532 with six doubles, six homers and all three of his steals on the year. After he pilfered 38 bags on 47 attempts over the prior two years, it stands to reason that he'll continue being more successful on the basepaths the rest of the way in 2023.

Witt went 1-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 9-6 loss to the Marlins.

Witt has hit safely in seven of his last 11 games, and he's made the most of his trips on base with six steals in that span. The shortstop is up to 19 thefts in 23 attempts this season, putting him on track to breeze past the 30 steals he recorded as a rookie in 2022. He's batting just .233 with a .687 OPS, 10 home runs, 27 RBI and 37 runs scored as a near-everyday presence in the top half of the Royals' order.

Kessinger had his contract selected from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

Kessinger is set to make his major-league debut after he produced a .284 average with six homers, 32 RBI, 37 runs and two stolen bases over 176 at-bats in 52 games with Sugar Land this season. Although he's not in the starting lineup Monday, he could draw a start during the Astros' four-game series with Toronto as Jose Altuve (oblique) continues to remain out of the lineup.

Duran (tightness) will start in left field and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Though the Rangers attributed Duran's absence from the lineup for Sunday's 12-3 win over the Mariners to unspecified tightness, the expectation was that the 24-year-old was receiving more of a maintenance day after he returned from the injured list to start in left field in Saturday's win. Now that he's healthy again following a brief stint on the IL, Duran should take back a near-everyday role in either left field or at designated hitter, given that he's produced an impressive .872 OPS in 147 plate appearances this season.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Pittsburgh.

Diaz had started in five of the past six games, going hitless in 16 at-bats over that stretch to drop his season-long batting average down to .179. Though he's one of the highest-paid players on the Athletics in the first season of a two-year, $14.5 million deal, Diaz may nonetheless find himself on the bench more frequently in the near future given his wretched start to his tenure in Oakland.

Volpe went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 4-1 victory versus the Dodgers.

Volpe provided some critical breathing room for New York with his two-run blast in the ninth inning. The rookie also singled in the fifth, and he finished with his first multi-hit performance since May 14. Volpe has struggled mightily since that date, slashing .138/.186/.308 with a 34.3 percent strikeout rate over 19 contests. Two of his past three hits have left the park, but they've been part of a 3-for-20 stretch that has included seven strikeouts and no walks.