MLB Player News

Lopez (oblique) was activated from the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

Lopez opened the Triple-A campaign on the shelf with the oblique injury but has now joined Buffalo after a five-game rehab assignment with Single-A Dunedin. He had a .289/.347/.405 slash line with two home runs, 25 RBI, 36 runs and 15 stolen bases in 43 games at the Triple-A level last season, and he could be in the mix for a big-league promotion should the Blue Jays require infield depth later in the year.

Fletcher isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Fletcher has gone 0-for-5 with two walks over the last three games, and he'll get a breather Wednesday. Tyler Wade will start at the keystone and bat eighth.

Pena isn't starting Wednesday against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Pena went 3-for-7 with a homer, four RBI and a steal over the last two games, and he'll get his first day off since April 17. Aledmys Diaz will start at shortstop and bat seventh.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in a 10-7 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Smith took opposing starter Ryan Yarbrough deep to left in the first inning to give Oakland an early 5-1 lead, though that would be it for his damage at the plate. Since going hitless through his first six games, the 25-year-old has turned things around by going 10-for-27 over his last nine. The homer was Smith's first and he's now slashing .233/.267/.395 with half of his 10 hits going for extra bases.

Witt went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored, two RBI and a walk in a 7-1 win Tuesday over St. Louis.

Witt went yard off Dakota Hudson in the second inning for his first major-league home run. After walking in the sixth, he drove in a run on a single and came around to score in the five-run seventh. The 21-year-old has an 11-game hitting streak, compiling a .341/.386/.488 batting line and three stolen bases in that span. He seems to be finding his way at the big-league level.

Pena went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 4-0 win against the Mariners.

Pena singled and stole second in the third inning and brought home two runs with another single in the sixth. The theft is the 24-year-old's first surprisingly enough. His sprint speed of 29.2 feet per second ranks 13th in MLB and he had five swipes in 30 games at the Triple-A level.

Anderson went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a hit-by-pitch in a 3-1 win Tuesday over the Cubs.

Anderson hit a solo shot to lead off the third inning and put the White Sox up 3-0. Over the last five games, he is 9-for-20 with two homers and no strikeouts. With a .329/.354/.544 batting line through the first 20 games, the 28-year-old is putting up very similar numbers to his .322/.349/.495 line over the previous three seasons.

Chang (illness) will shift his rehab assignment from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday.

Chang, who has resided on the COVID-19 injured list since April 15, began his assignment at Akron on Friday. After appearing in two games for the affiliate while going 1-for-5 at the plate, Chang will move on to the highest rung of the minors to pick up more at-bats. Chang is out of minor-league options and may not be guaranteed a spot on the Guardians' 26-man active roster once he's reinstated from the COVID-19 IL, so the team could drag out his rehab assignment in an attempt to delay having to make a roster move.

The Athletics optioned Allen to Triple-A Las Vegas following Monday's 6-1 loss to the Rays, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

His demotion likely clears a spot on the 26-man active roster for reliever Lou Trivino (illness), who appears ready to return from the COVID-19 injured list. After getting his first call to the majors April 18, Allen appeared in eight games for Oakland and went 4-for-19 with two doubles, two runs and a stolen base.

Pena went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in a 3-0 victory versus the Mariners on Monday.

The Astros were leading by one run in the sixth inning before Pena provided some cushion with a two-run, 422-foot shot to left field. The hit was just his second in his past four contests, though both knocks have left the yard. Pena is hitting only .215 on the season, but he has collected five homers, 12 RBI and 14 runs.