MLB Player News

Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.

Fellow rookie Ezequiel Duran will take over at third base while Smith sits for the second time in the four-game series. Smith is slashing an unremarkable .234/.321/.255 in 16 games since the All-Star break and may have to settle for something less than an everyday role until his performance proves worthy of a larger share of playing time.

Correa is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Correa will be getting his first day off since July 6 while Nick Gordon takes over at shortstop in the series finale. Dating back to the All-Star break, Correa has hit .192 with two home runs, four RBI and six additional runs while starting in all 13 of the Twins' games.

Anderson had his three-game suspension reduced to two games Sunday following a successful appeal, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. He'll begin serving the ban in Sunday's contest in Texas.

Anderson has now been suspended on three different occasions this season. He missed the first two games of the 2022 campaign stemming from an altercation with an umpire last September, and he drew a one-game suspension in late April for an obscene gesture, but the ban was later lifted and a fine was imposed instead. Anderson was also able to get his latest suspension reduced, but he'll still be forced to miss Sunday's series finale as well as the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader in Kansas City after making contact with an umpire in a July 30 game against the Athletics. The White Sox recalled Lenyn Sosa from Triple-A Charlotte earlier Sunday to provide depth in the middle infield while Anderson serves his two-game suspension.

Baez went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run in Saturday's 9-1 win over the Rays.

Baez had plated just three total runs over his last 10 games, but he was able to take advantage of the Tigers getting on base at a collective .361 clip in the easy win. The Tigers will include Baez in the lineup for Sunday's series finale, with the shortstop batting third against Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen.

Diaz will start at second base and bat second in Sunday's game against the Guardians.

After a one-game absence due to a sore ring finger, Diaz checked back into the lineup for Saturday's 4-1 loss, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles an an RBI. He'll make his second straight start in the middle infield, this time replacing a resting Jose Altuve after spelling Jeremy Pena on Saturday. Moving forward, Diaz is projected to see most of his playing time in left field while the Astros wait for Michael Brantley (shoulder) to return from the injured list.

Duran went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI fielder's choice in an 8-0 win over the White Sox on Saturday.

Duran showed why scouts admire the raw power in his bat by taking a hanging slider from Michael Kopech to the opposite field for his third home run of the season. The 23-year-old infielder was called up after the All-Star break and is slashing .233/.276/.379 in 116 at-bats for the Rangers in his rookie season. Duran is worth watching down the stretch to see if the power he displayed in the minor leagues can translate into success at the major-league level.

Chang went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a 9-1 loss to the Tigers on Saturday.

Chang has been playing very good baseball since being picked up off waivers by the Rays in early July. The backup utility player is now slashing .342/.375/.474 with one home run in 38 at-bats with his new team. Chang could continue to find his way into the number nine spot in the Rays lineup, which has been depleted by hand injuries to Wander Franco and Harold Ramirez.

Fletcher went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in a 7-1 win against the Mariners in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader.

Fletcher launched a two-run homer to left field off Seattle starter Chris Flexen in the sixth inning and singled home another run in the ninth. The 28-year-old had sat out the last two games due to a foot injury on the heels of missing over two months as a result of a hip injury but appears to be healthy now. Fletcher is slashing .220/.270/.424 with two long balls, six runs and eight RBI in 21 contests. He has yet to attempt a stolen base after recording 15 thefts last year.

Bichette went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Twins.

Bichette accounted for the Blue Jays' offense with a two-run homer in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the eighth. He's gone 7-for-22 (.318) through five games in August, lifting his season slash line up to .262/.303/.424 with 15 long balls, 59 RBI, 59 runs scored and seven stolen bases through 106 contests.

Velazquez is not in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mariners.

Velazquez is playing more of late, but he will not start both games of Saturday's twin bill. David Fletcher will get the nod at shortstop in the nightcap.