MLB Player News

Baez went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in a 5-1 win against the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Baez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and none out in the third inning and crushed a Merrill Kelly curveball 459 feet to left center for his third homer in as many games. The knock extended the 29-year-old's hitting streak to a modest eight games, during which Baez is 12-for-31 with four long balls and two doubles, upping his season line to .216/.258/.378.

Velazquez will sit Friday against the Mariners, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Velazquez remains the Angels' primary shortstop despite the fact that he's hitting just .176/.223/.271 on the year. Tyler Wade will get the start on this occasion.

Pena (thumb) said Friday that he's feeling great, but he won't be activated off the injured list just yet, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Friday is the first day that Pena is eligible to return from the injured list, but despite the fact that he seemingly feels fine, he'll wind up missing at least one more day. The Astros have yet to specify exactly when he'll be back, but it looks as though he should return within the next few days.

Bogaerts will sit Friday against the Guardians, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

This appears to be nothing more than a routine day off for Bogaerts, who winds up with two full days to rest, as the Red Sox had a scheduled off day Thursday. Christian Arroyo will start at shortstop.

Diaz (shoulder) will bat seventh and play shortstop Friday against the Yankees.

Diaz missed the last four games with left shoulder soreness. He returns to a temporary starting role but will likely head back to the bench soon, as Jeremy Pena (thumb) appears close to a return from the injured list.

Smith is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals.

Smith will take a breather after starting two games in a row following a stint on the 10-day injured list due to a shoulder issue. He went 1-for-6 with a walk and a run scored in those contests. Ezequiel Duran will get the start at third base and bat eighth in Friday's matchup.

Pena (thumb) participated in all pregame activities prior to Thursday's matchup against the Yankees, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena has steadily increased his workload since landing on the 10-day injured list with left thumb discomfort last week, and he's eligible to be activated as early as Friday. While manager Dusty Baker said Thursday that a Friday return "might be a little quick," the skipper was pleased with Pena's progress, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the shortstop return sometime this weekend or early next week.

Diaz (shoulder) isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diaz has been dealing with a sore left shoulder and will be out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive game. He was available off the bench Wednesday but was ultimately held off the field. It wouldn't be surprising to see him available off the bench once again Thursday, whileMauricio Dubon will remain at shortstop and bat seventh.

Crawford went 2-for-4 with a two doubles, two RBI and a run in a win over the Athletics on Wednesday.

Crawford wreaked havoc out of the top of the order and knocked in the Mariners' seventh and eighth runs of the game with his fifth-inning double. The veteran shortstop's first multi-hit game since June 11 was a welcome sight, as it snapped a 4-for-34 funk that had encompassed his previous nine contests.

Downs was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Downs went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his MLB debut Wednesday after being called up Monday, but he'll return to Triple-A just one day later. The 23-year-old has struggled to a .180 batting average with 11 homers, 21 RBI, 35 runs and 11 stolen bases over 189 at-bats with Worcester this season. His demotion suggests Christian Arroyo (illness) is nearing a return from the COVID-19 injured list.