MLB Player News
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Placed on 10-day IL
Baez (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to April 13.
Baez had already been ruled out for the Tigers' final two matchups against Kansas City, and the team will ultimately elect to place him on the injured list since he hasn't made enough progress since aggravating his thumb injury. Since the move was backdated to Wednesday, the 29-year-old will be eligible to return as early as next weekend, but it's not yet clear whether he'll be able to do so. Harold Castro has filled in at shortstop recently and should continue to see additional playing time during Baez's IL stint.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Won't start in series finale
Baez (thumb) won't start in Sunday's series finale against the Royals, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Baez was already out of the lineup for Saturday's matchup against Kansas City, and he'll be forced to miss a fifth straight game Sunday. The Tigers have a scheduled off day Monday, and the team is strongly considering an IL stint for Baez if he isn't feeling better by then. Harold Castro should continue to fill in at shortstop while Baez is out.
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Kevin Smith DH | NYY
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Pair of hits in start
Smith went 2-for-3 with a double in a loss to the Blue Jays on Friday.
Smith drew the start at third base and made good use of it, mustering the Athletics' only multi-hit effort of the night. The 25-year-old went 0-for-16 over his first five appearances of the season, but he's bounced back to go 3-for-6 with Friday's two-bagger, a walk and two runs over his last two games and has now drawn three straight starts.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Still not starting
Baez (thumb) isn't starting Saturday's game against the Royals.
Baez hurt his thumb while celebrating the Tigers' Opening Day win, and he aggravated the issue while swinging recently. His thumb remained swollen Friday, but X-rays were negative. The 29-year-old will be out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive game, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench. Harold Castro will remain at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Tim Anderson 2B | LAA
White Sox's Tim Anderson: Records stolen base
Anderson went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Friday against the Rays.
Anderson led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and then stole second base with two outs. He was ultimately stranded, and he did not reach base again. Since serving a two-game suspension to begin the season, Anderson has collected nine hits across 21 plate appearances while tallying four RBI and three runs scored.
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Xander Bogaerts SS | SD
Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts: Chasing pitches
Bogaerts went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Twins.
Since going 3-for-5 in the season opener against the Yankees, Bogaerts is 2-for-18 with eight strikeouts. "Right now, he's off balance, chasing pitches," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "It's one of those, you go through stretches like this during the season and it just happens it's early in the season and it's magnified." Bogaerts suffered a mild hamstring injury during the opener, but Cora indicated that is not an issue and the shortstop is "moving well" at his position.
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Corey Seager SS | TEX
Rangers' Corey Seager: Collects unconventional RBI
Seager went 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in Friday's 9-6 loss to the Angels.
During the Rangers' five-run fourth inning, Angels manager Joe Maddon had Seager intentionally walked with the bases loaded, just the third time that's happened in the modern era. He's now hit safely in six of seven games played. Of Texas' two major free-agent signings, Seager (.861 OPS, six RBI) is outperforming Marcus Semien (.379 OPS, one RBI).
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Thumb X-rays negative
Baez's thumb remains swollen Friday, but X-rays were negative so he could be available Saturday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Baez said Friday that he initially jammed his thumb while celebrating the Tigers' Opening Day win and that the issue got worse following a recent swing. He's been scratched from the lineup both Wednesday and Thursday and will be unavailable again Friday against the Royals, but his absence could be nearing its end if his thumb responds well to treatment.
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Yu Chang SS | TB
Guardians' Yu Chang: Placed on injured list
Chang was placed on the injured list for an unspecified reason Friday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Chang didn't appear in any of the last three games, and he'll now be sidelined with an undisclosed injury. A timetable for Chang's return to action isn't yet clear.
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James Nelson SS | HOU
Yankees' James Nelson: Activated from injured list
Nelson (undisclosed) was activated from the 7-day minor-league injured list Friday, Matt Kardos of MLB.com reports.
Nelson began the regular season on the IL, but he'll now be available to make his 2022 debut. After spending the last three seasons at the High-A level, he's been assigned to Double-A Somerset this year.