MLB Player News

Manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Story is still experiencing discomfort in his right hand, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Cora didn't elaborate any further on Story's situation, but the skipper's comments would seem to suggest the 29-year-old won't be an option for this weekend's series with the Brewers. Story's ongoing absence should pave the way for Yolmer Sanchez and Jeter Downs to pick up more work at second base.

Diaz isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Mariners, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diaz started the last four games and went 3-for-15 with a double, three runs, a walk and a strikeout over that stretch. Chas McCormick is taking over in left field and batting seventh.

Witt (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.

Witt will be excluded from the starting nine for the fourth straight game, but he still appears to have a chance to avoid a trip to the injured list. According to Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star, Witt is scheduled to go through a full pregame workout Thursday that includes batting practice, potentially making him available off the bench in a pinch-hitting capacity. The Royals still elected to bring aboard Maikel Garcia from Double-A Northwest Arkansas as some added insurance in the middle infield while Witt tends to the hamstring injury, and Garcia will pick up his first MLB start at shortstop in the series opener.

Crawford went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run in a win over the Rangers on Wednesday.

The hot-hitting shortstop extended his on-base streak to 19 consecutive starts with Wednesday's production. Crawford boasts a .343 on-base percentage in the last eight games specifically, a stretch during which he has a trio of two-hit efforts.

Mateo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning loss to the Rays.

Mateo had the Orioles' lone extra-base hit of the contest, a one-out solo shot in the bottom of the ninth inning to force an extra frame. The shortstop's .215/.264/.370 slash line for the season is nothing special, but he's through 21 games in July he has a .279/.328/.508 line with two homers, five stolen bases, eight RBI, 12 runs scored, two triples and four doubles.. On the year, he's racked up 24 steals, eight long balls, 26 RBI and 37 runs scored while regularly batting at the bottom of the order.

Wendle went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Reds.

Wendle produced both of the Marlins' runs on the night on a two-out single to right field in the top of the fifth inning. He'll be filling in for a resting Miguel Rojas at shortstop Wednesday while serving as the Marlins' leadoff man, and Wendle should have a clear path to a regular spot in the lineup versus both right- and left-handed pitching while all of Brian Anderson (shoulder), Garrett Cooper (wrist), Jazz Chisholm (back), Jon Berti (groin) and Jorge Soler (back) are stuck on the injured list.

Downs isn't starting Wednesday against the Guardians, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Downs went 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts over three games following the All-Star break and will retreat to the bench for a third consecutive matchup. Yolmer Sanchez is starting at the keystone and batting ninth.

Rojas isn't in the lineup Wednesday against Cincinnati, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Rojas went 5-for-16 with a double, two RBI, a run and three strikeouts over his last four games but is on the bench for a second consecutive matchup. Joey Wendle is shifting to shortstop while Willians Astudillo starts at second base.

Crawford, who went 2-for-4 with a run in a win over the Rangers on Tuesday, has now hit safely in each of the last 18 games during which he's registered a plate appearance.

The impressive streak dates back to June 28 and has seen Crawford produce a .271/.316/.343 slash line with seven RBI, four walks and 12 runs. Crawford has also struck out at just a 6.6 percent rate during that span, which has pushed his season-long figure down to a career-low 13.4 percent.

Smith will sit Wednesday versus the Mariners.

Smith will take a seat after he went 2-for-6 over the first two contests of the series. Ezequiel Duran will start at third base and bat seventh against Seattle.