MLB Player News
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Logs hit, scores run in return
Smith went 1-for-5 with a run scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the Pirates.
Smith returned to action following a three-game hiatus due to a hamstring injury. His leadoff single to open the game extended his hitting streak to eight games (14-for-36, .389) and an on-base streak to 12 contests (.426 OBP). Smith is expected to retain his role as the team's leadoff batter and primary designated hitter against right-handers.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Swats homer No. 10
Pena went 3-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Angels.
The shortstop led off the game by taking Yusei Kikuchi deep -- Pena's first long ball in June and 10th of the season. He's hardly been quiet at the plate, however, reeling off three straight multi-hit performances and slashing .395/.432/.513 through 18 games on the month with six steals, eight RBI and 15 runs.
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Gabriel Arias SS | CLE
Guardians' Gabriel Arias: Strikeout rate spiking
Arias went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Athletics.
Arias struck out multiple times for the sixth time over his last seven games (14 Ks in 22 at-bats). He's always had a tendency to swing and miss -- his 31.2 strikeout percentage in 2025 marks his third consecutive season over 30 percent -- but the versatile infielder has taken it new extremes in June. Arias is batting .185 (10-for-54) with 25 strikeouts (43.1 percent) through 16 contests this month.
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Jorge Mateo SS | ATL
Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Begins baseball activities
Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Friday that Mateo (elbow) has resumed baseball activities and is nearing a rehab assignment, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Mansolino didn't specify a target return date for Mateo, but a return to baseball activities is still a significant step forward for the 29-year-old, who has been out since early June with elbow inflammation.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Returns to starting nine
Smith (hamstring) is batting leadoff and playing DH on Friday against Pittsburgh.
Smith was held out of the lineup for three consecutive games due to left hamstring soreness, but he's been cleared to DH on Friday. The Rangers could look to ease Smith back into work in the field. He logged a hit in seven straight games before sustaining the injury, going 13-for-31 (.419) with two homers during that stretch.
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Gunnar Henderson 3B | BAL
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Getting breather
Henderson is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees.
Henderson isn't part of the starting nine for the first time since June 6, resting for the series opener against New York. Luis Vazquez will bat ninth and fill in at shortstop.
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Jacob Wilson SS | ATH
Athletics' Jacob Wilson: Blasts ninth homer
Wilson went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Astros.
Wilson had gone four games without a multi-hit effort, and his homer Thursday was his first since June 5. The shortstop is batting .410 (25-for-61) over 16 games this month, though just five of his hits in that span have gone for extra bases. Wilson continues to be a contact machine, batting .359 with a .908 OPS, nine homers, 39 RBI, 40 runs scored and five stolen bases over 71 contests. He tied Aaron Judge with 101 hits to lead the majors so far this season, and no other player has more than 94 through Thursday's action.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Available off bench Thursday
Smith (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals, but manager Bruce Bochy said that Smith will be available off the bench as a pinch hitter, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Smith's tight left hamstring will keep him out of the lineup for a third straight game could still be causing him some complications when he runs and plays the field, but the Rangers remain confident that the 27-year-old will avoid a trip to the injured list. In fact, Bochy added that he expects Smith to be ready to rejoin the starting nine during this weekend's series in Pittsburgh, though it wouldn't be surprising if Smith was used as a designated hitter initially. Smith has been a bright spot in a middling season for the Rangers, slashing .288/.357/.443 with seven home runs and eight stolen bases over 245 plate appearances while making starts at every position except pitcher and catcher.
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Jose Caballero 2B | NYY
Rays' Jose Caballero: Piling up steals
Caballero went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases Wednesday against the Orioles.
Caballero has been splitting time almost exactly evenly with Taylor Walls at shortstop since the start of June, though the former drew a start in right field Wednesday. Caballero entered the game tied for the league lead in stolen bases, a title that is solely his following Wednesday's contest, as he now has 27 swiped bags in 33 attempts. His speed is his lone real source of fantasy value, however, as he's gone just 4-for-31 with one RBI and six runs scored across 14 games in June.
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Bo Bichette 3B | NYM
Blue Jays' Bo Bichette: Another homer, three hits in win
Bichette went 3-for-5 with a home run, three total RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 8-1 win over Arizona.
Bichette got the Blue Jays' offense started with a 418-foot blast off Eduardo Rodriguez to lead off the first inning, his first of three hits and three RBI on the night. The shortstop has homered in back-to-back games while going 5-for-10. Overall, Bichette is slashing .275/.317/.437 with 10 homers, 44 RBI, 36 runs scored and four stolen bases across 331 plate appearances this season.