MLB Player News

Story (head) is starting at second base and leading off Thursday against the Blue Jays.

He passed concussion protocols after being hit in the helmet by a pitch Wednesday. Story is still looking for his first home run and first stolen base on the season. He has a 33.3 K% and 6.1 BB% through eight games. This is his first time leading off with the Red Sox.

Story passed the concussion protocols after being hit in the helmet by a pitch during Wednesday's loss to the Blue Jays, and manager Alex Cora expects the infielder to play Thursday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

The 29-year-old is also undergoing some testing after the contest, but it appears he's avoided a concussion. Story remained in the game after being hit in the helmet by a 92-mph pitch during the third inning, and he may not end up missing any time despite the dangerous incident.

Baez (thumb) said that he expects to resume swinging a bat off a tee Thursday, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

With Baez indicating that the swelling in his right thumb has gone down since being placed on the 10-day injured list last weekend, he appears ready to resume baseball activities. If Baez responds well to hitting off a tee, he could take batting practice Friday and put himself in position to return from the 10-day injured list when first eligible Saturday.

Anderson isn't starting the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Anderson was a bright spot in the lineup during Wednesday's matinee, going 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a strikeout. Danny Mendick will take over at shortstop and bat ninth.

Pena will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Pena will make his second consecutive start out of the leadoff spot and looks poised to remain atop the lineup against both right- and left-handed pitching for at least the next week and a half after Jose Altuve (hamstring) was placed on the injured list Wednesday. The 24-year-old rookie provided a spark in the table-setting role in Tuesday's 7-2 loss, going 1-for-4 with a solo blast and an additional run.

Mateo isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

Mateo started in the last six games and hit .304 with a double, two RBI, a run, a stolen base and eight strikeouts. Chris Owings will start at shortstop and bat ninth.

The Athletics placed Smith on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a bone bruise in his left ankle, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Smith was spotted with his left ankle in a walking boot Tuesday, so his move to the IL a day later doesn't come as a major surprise. The rookie infielder has gotten off to a rough start to 2022, slashing .161/.212/.226 with a 30.3 percent strikeout rate across 33 plate appearances. Smith's absence for at least the next week and a half should give Sheldon Neuse more job security as the Athletics' primary third baseman.

Allen made his major-league debut in Tuesday's win over the Orioles, starting at second base and going 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

The defensive-savvy prospect is more renowned for his prowess at shortstop, but he's also logged 61 appearances at the keystone in the minors. Allen's promotion from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday was the result of the Athletics' rash of COVID-19 absences, so his initial majors stint may not last but a few days.

Story went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Scoring opportunities were rare for Boston, which managed just three hits during the game. Enrique Hernandez and Story hit back-to-back doubles in the third to produce the team's first run. Story's double extended his hit streak to six games and gives him three RBI in the last two contests.

Pena went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in a 7-2 loss Tuesday against the Angels.

Pena reached on a catcher's interference and scored in the third and added a solo home run in the seventh. The top prospect has gotten off to a great start for the Astros, leading the team with six extra-base hits and posting a 1.014 OPS. The 24-year-old had only played 30 minor-league games above High-A level prior to this season and has shown he belongs in the big leagues so far.