MLB Player News

Barger will run the bases Thursday for the first time since injuring both his ankles on an awkward landing at first base April 5, and if that goes well he could begin a rehab assignment this weekend, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

A return to the lineup next week remains firmly on the table for Barger. The 26-year-old had gotten off to a slow start, going 1-for-19 (.053) through eight games before getting injured, so the organization may not rush him back from the rehab stint in order to give him a chance to find his timing at the plate. Once he's activated from the IL, Barger should reclaim his starting role against right-handed pitching in right field.

Duran started at second base and went 2-for-2 with a walk, a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Yankees.

Duran got the start in place of primary second baseman Josh Smith, who got the first of a "couple of days off," per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Smith is scuffling with a slash line of .193/.306/.217 through 98 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Duran has been a useful fill-in at multiple positions and slashed .288/.354/.424 over 65 plate appearances.

Crawford went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-3 victory over the Twins.

Crawford opened the scoring in the third inning with his two-out homer off Taj Bradley, his second this year. It was also the first multi-hit game for Crawford since April 22 -- he'd gone just 2-for-17 in five games prior to Wednesday. The veteran infielder is now slashing .200./366/.313 with seven RBI, 13 runs scored and a stolen base across 101 plate appearances this season.

Young went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, three RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Twins.

The 22-year-old second baseman extended his RBI streak to six games with some late-inning heroics, as he brought home Dominic Canzone with a seventh-inning double before putting Seattle in the lead for good with a two-run single in the top of the ninth. Young's surge has boosted his slash line on the season to .286/.357/.420 through 32 contests with three homers, two steals, 19 RBI and 20 runs.

Rocchio went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Rays.

Hitting ninth in the order for the Guardians, Rocchio kept flipping the lineup over and came home on a Kyle Manzardo sacrifice fly in the third inning and a Chase DeLauter single in the fifth. Rocchio closed out April on a heater, batting .385 (20-for-52) over his last 15 games with two doubles, two homers, two steals, eight runs and 11 RBI.

The Tigers placed Baez on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right ankle sprain.

Baez suffered the injury while trying to leg out a base hit in Tuesday's loss to Atlanta and was carted off the field. The Tigers haven't revealed the severity of Baez's sprain, but he's likely to need more than just a minimum 10-day absence. Wenceel Perez and Matt Vierling should see upticks in playing time while Baez is shelved.

Mayer is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.

With a left-hander (Eric Lauer) on the hill for Toronto, the left-handed-hitting Mayer will bow out of the lineup for the series finale. He'll be replaced in the starting nine by Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who will man second base and bat eighth.

Smith is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Yankees.

For just the second time this season, the left-handed-hitting Smith is on the bench while the Rangers go up against a righty starter. Per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, Smith -- who is slashing only .193/.306/.217 this season -- will get a "couple days off" to regroup, manager Skip Schumaker said. Ezequiel Duran will cover second base and bat ninth against Yankees right-hander Elmer Rodriguez, who is making his major-league debut.

Rivas is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

Will Wilson will receive the nod at third base in place of Rivas in the series finale. Rivas had started in nine of Seattle's last 10 games, batting just .129 with zero home runs or steals, four RBI and one run during that stretch. Even while he continues to see steady playing time in the absence of Brendan Donovan (groin), Rivas will hold limited fantasy appeal.

Martinez will start in left field and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Rays, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Martinez appeared to be moving into more of a part-time role following a week-long stretch from April 15 through 22 in which he went just 3-for-19 at the dish, but he's since settled back in as an everyday player for the Guardians. The switch-hitting outfielder will stick in the lineup for a sixth straight contest after producing two home runs and two doubles and chipping in a stolen base over his previous five starts.