MLB Player News

Correa went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double and three runs scored in Thursday's 6-3 extra-inning win over Kansas City.

Houston avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Royals with the win, and Correa was instrumental. He was part of a momentum-shifting sixth inning when the Astros plated two runs to tie the game -- the shortstop led off the frame with a single then scored on an Aledmys Diaz double. Correa finished the series 7-for-14 with three walks and four runs.

Downs owns a .181/.271/.32 batting line with 11 homers, 13 steals, 27 RBI and 32 runs in 74 games for Triple-A Worcester this season.

Things haven't been getting better, as Downs has gone 3-for-44 (.068) with 21 strikeouts over his last 13 games. The fact that he's cracked double digits in both homers and steals is well and good, but the rest of his numbers -- including an unsavory 32.2 percent strikeout rate -- are, to be blunt, extremely bad. Maybe he just wasn't (and isn't) ready for Triple-A after playing just 12 games in Double-A in 2019; that's a charitable interpretation of this year's struggles, but Downs' well-rounded skill set and past results suggest that writing him off completely would be a mistake.

Bogaerts went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Yankees.

Bogaerts' opposite-field blast off Andrew Heaney was his 19th of the season and gave Boston an early 1-0 lead. The star shortstop has now driven in a run in six of his last eight games, plating 11 runs in total over that span.

Velazquez went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a run and a stolen base Wednesday in a win over Boston.

The 27-year-old knocked in a run with a second-inning single, then stole second base and came around to score on an Anthony Rizzo single. Velazquez later drove in another run with a single in the eighth to conclude his first multi-hit effort of the season. Through 23 plate appearances, the infielder is slashing .217/.261/.478 with four RBI and a 0:8 BB:K.

Mondesi (oblique) will resume a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Mondesi's rehab assignment was paused Sunday after he experienced oblique tightness, and further tests revealed that he's still dealing with scar tissue in his right oblique from an injury earlier in the year. The 26-year-old is expected to take most of his swings from the right side to limit the exertion on his right oblique, but it's encouraging to see him return to game action following the brief shutdown.

Franco went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, two RBI and one run Wednesday in the Rays' 8-4 win over the Orioles.

With only six home runs and two stolen bases through his first 189 big-league plate appearances, Franco isn't wowing from a fantasy standpoint, but the touted rookie is at least starting to settle into a comfort zone at the plate following a slow start to his career. Through 14 games in August, Franco is slashing .291/.361/.509. He'll start at shortstop and bat second in Thursday's series finale.

Anderson isn't starting Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Anderson has gone 4-for-13 with a triple, a run, an RBI and a stolen base across his last three games. Danny Mendick will start at shortstop and bat eighth.

The Blue Jays selected Smith's contract from Triple-A Buffalo ahead of Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

For the second day in a row, the Blue Jays promoted a utility man from Triple-A to help fill out the big-league bench, as Smith joins Otto Lopez in Toronto. The 25-year-old has seen the bulk of his playing time at shortstop and third base this season, but he'll be an option at second base or the corner-outfield spots if the Blue Jays want to give one of their regulars a day off. Smith flashed an interesting fantasy profile at Triple-A -- he hit .283 with 19 home runs and 16 stolen bases -- so he could be worth monitoring in AL-only formats if he falls into steady playing time at some point.

Lopez was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo prior to Tuesday's game against Washington, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

It was announced earlier Tuesday that Toronto was planning on calling Lopez up ahead of Tuesday's game, and now the 22-year-old has officially been added to the 26-man roster with George Springer (knee) landing on the IL. Lopez should provide the Blue Jays excellent flexibility in a utility role, as he's played all three outfield positions as well as both middle infield spots in the minors.

Wendle is not starting Tuesday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Wendle played multiple positions while starting in each of the past six games, but he'll predictably rest with lefty John Means set to take the mound for the Orioles. Yandy Diaz (thumb) is set to return to the lineup at third base while Brandon Lowe starts at the keystone Tuesday.