MLB Player News

Wendle is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Wendle has a .487 OPS through 15 games in August and will head to the bench Friday with lefty Tyler Anderson on the mound for Los Angeles. Jon Berti will shift to the hot corner while Charles Leblanc starts at the keystone.

Duran is not in Friday's lineup against the Twins.

He will sit for the second time in the last three games. Josh Smith, who is hitting eighth against righty Dylan Bundy, may have a loose hold on the strong side of a platoon at third base.

Velazquez isn't starting Friday against the Tigers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Velazquez will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games after he went 2-for-4 with a run, a stolen base and a strikeout Wednesday. David Fletcher is shifting to shortstop while Luis Rengifo (back) returns to the lineup at second base.

Marcano will sit Friday versus the Reds.

Marcano will take a seat after he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Thursday's win. Greg Allen will replace him in left field and bat seventh against Cincinnati.

Downs is considered day-to-day due to a left ankle injury, Joe McDonald of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.

Downs exited Thursday's game at Triple-A Worcester after falling while running to second base, and he had to be helped off the field by trainers. However, the team hopes the 24-year-old will be able to avoid a trip to the injured list.

Story (wrist) has taken batting practice and hit off a machine this week, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

It's been nearly a month since Story was placed on the injured list with what was eventually diagnosed as a hairline fracture in his right wrist. His recent work at PNC Park indicates he should soon be ready to begin a rehab assignment, if he responds well to the increased activity.

Downs exited Thursday's game with Triple-A Worcester due to a left leg injury, Joe McDonald of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.

Downs fell on his way to second base after lining a ball into left field, and he remained down momentarily before being helped off the field by trainers. There's no official diagnosis, but a trip to the minor-league injured list seems possible.

Luciano (back) will start at shortstop for High-A Eugene on Thursday after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list a day earlier, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

Luciano came off the bench Wednesday in his first game action for Eugene since June 3, but he should take on an everyday role for the High-A club beginning with Thursday's contest. The 20-year-old was shut down for nearly two months due to the lower-back strain before he was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. For the season, Luciano is hitting .286 with eight home runs and a 9.3 percent walk rate across 165 plate appearances for Eugene.

Velazquez went 2-for-4 with a run and a stolen base Wednesday in a loss to Seattle.

Velazquez singled and stole second base in the third inning, and he subsequently scored the Angels' first run on a David Fletcher base hit. Velazquez has gone through a few base-stealing spurts this season, though this was his first theft since July 14. He's been caught on the basepaths only once in 14 tries, but his opportunities to run have been limited by a .182 batting average and .226 on-base percentage.

Franco (wrist) is not in the lineup Thursday for Triple-A Durham, according to play-by-play announcer Patrick Kinas.

Franco will sit for a second straight day while undergoing treatment on his sore wrist. According to Durham manager Brady Williams, Franco's absence is "more about pain tolerance and being pain-free" while swinging than anything else. It's unclear when Franco will take the field next, but it's a good sign that he has not been recalled from his rehab assignment.