MLB Player News

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said that Smith (ankle) took part in full baseball activities Sunday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Smith, who is recovering from a bone bruise in his left ankle, was able to take batting practice in the cage and field grounders at third base as part of an extended workout. Kotsay said after the workout that Smith could soon head out on a brief minor-league rehab assignment before potentially returning from the 10-day injured list at some point next weekend.

Allen will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Allen is filling in for a resting Elvis Andrus on Sunday, but the rookie should see steady playing time at the keystone during the upcoming week at least until Oakland gets Chad Pinder or Jed Lowrie back from the COVID-19-related injured list. Through his first four big-league games, Allen has gone 2-for-12 with two doubles and a run.

Owings will start at second base and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Angels.

Owings will pick up his fifth start of the season Sunday, filling in at the keystone for the lefty-hitting Rougned Odor, who sits with a southpaw (Jose Suarez) on the mound for the Angels. The utility man is 1-for-10 with eight strikeouts through his first six games with the Orioles.

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

Diaz and Niko Goodrum have now alternated starts at the keystone for five straight games following Jose Altuve's (hamstring) placement on the 10-day injured list. Though Diaz draws the start Sunday with southpaw Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for Toronto, it's not entirely clear if the Astros plan to deploy a platoon arrangement between the righty-hitting Diaz and the switch-hitting Goodrum while Altuve is on the shelf.

Mateo went 0-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Angels.

Mateo has recorded three steals in two games against the Angels in this weekend's series. In Saturday's contest, he reached on an error and stole second in the second inning, but he was left aboard. The Orioles' primary shortstop has yet to be caught in six stolen base attempts, and he's added three RBI, three runs scored and a .229/.288/.271 slash line in 53 plate appearances.

Witt went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 13-7 loss to Seattle.

Witt singled in the fourth and fifth innings, plating a run and stealing second on the latter. The two-hit game was the second of the top prospect's career and Witt has now strung together a modest three-game hitting struck that's boosted a still-disappointing slash line to .184/.216/.286. The 21-year-old logged 29 thefts in 124 minor-league games last season and will be a bigger stolen base threat once he can get on base more consistently.

Crawford went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 13-7 win over Kansas City.

Crawford got Seattle on the board with a two-run homer off Royals starter Kris Bubic and tacked on a single in the fourth and walk in the sixth. The 27-year-old has recorded consecutive multi-hit games for the second time this season and boosted his slash line to .340/.460/.560, with the .460 OBP ranking fifth in the league.

Correa is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Correa started the past nine games and will receive a day to reset after posting a .182/.308/.182 slash line and 28.2 percent strikeout rate during that span. Nick Gordon take over at shortstop in his absence and bat ninth.

The Tigers reinstated Baez (thumb) from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Rockies in Detroit. He'll start at shortstop and bat third in the series finale, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com.

Baez was sidelined for just one day beyond the minimum amount of time on the IL with the sore right thumb, an injury that first surfaced April 13. Even though Baez wasn't sent out on a rehab assignment prior to being activated, the Tigers shouldn't have much hesitation about deploying him on an everyday basis now that he's back in action. Baez's return will likely leave fewer at-bats to go around for Harold Castro and Willi Castro.

Baez (thumb) is hoping to return Sunday against the Rockies, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Saturday was the earliest he reportedly could have returned, but he will miss both games of the twin bill. He will take batting practice on the field in preparation for a return Sunday. Harold Castro will start at shortstop in his absence.