MLB Player News

Smith went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk, a stolen base and two total runs scored in Sunday's 16-8 win over the Angels.

Travis Jankowski (hamstring) left the game in the second inning, and Smith filled in admirably. The homer was Smith's second of the season, and it put the Rangers ahead 7-3. This was the utility man's first game action in May after he played semi-regularly in April. He's slashing .154/.353/.269 with three RBI, 11 runs scored and one steal through 69 plate appearances. If Jankowski ends up on the injured list, Smith could be a strong-side platoon option in left field.

Duran went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, an additional run scored and three strikeouts in Sunday's 16-8 win over the Angels.

Duran got the Rangers on the board with his blast in the second inning. This was his fifth multi-hit effort in his last nine games, a span in which he has three homers, 10 RBI and a 0:7 BB:K. The infielder raised his slash line to .318/.348/.506 with four homers, 16 RBI, 12 runs scored and two stolen bases through 26 contests this season. He hasn't had a major issue with strikeouts, fanning at a 24.7 percent rate, but he's also drawn just one walk this season.

Neto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

After exiting Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Cardinals with a bruised finger on his right hand, Neto proceeded to start at shortstop in each of the next three games while going 1-for-12 with two walks, two RBI and a run scored. Though Neto will take a seat for the series finale, Angels manager Phil Nevin is labeling the rookie's absence as more of a rest day rather than a setback, per Valenzuela. The day off should allow Neto's bruised finger to heal a little more before he likely returns to action Monday against the Astros.

Allen will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Royals.

Allen will start at shortstop for the fifth time in six games despite going an unremarkable 2-for-12 with four strikeouts and one walk since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday. He's poised to serve as Oakland's top option at the position while Aledmys Diaz (hamstring) is on the 10-day injured list.

Mateo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

According to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, manager Brandon Hyde suggested after Saturday's 5-4 loss to Atlanta that Mateo was in line to get the series finale off for maintenance purposes. With Mateo on the bench Sunday, Gunnar Henderson will shift from third base to shortstop.

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.