MLB Player News

Berti went 2-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and a run scored Thursday against the Rockies.

Berti continued his torrid stolen base pace, and he now has 17 swipes across 20 starts in June. While his aggressiveness on the bases is the highlight, Berti has also hit .299 with 13 runs and 10 RBI in that span. With both Joey Wendle (hamstring) and Brian Anderson (back) still sidelined, Berti should remain a fixture in the lineup for the time being.

Swanson went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored Thursday against the Giants.

Swanson filled in for Ronald Acuna atop the order and delivered an explosive performance. Swanson led off both the first and fourth innings by going deep, bringing his homer total to 12 on the campaign. Six of those home runs have come in his last 13 starts, during which he's also racked up 14 RBI and 13 runs scored. Overall, Swanson has a .302/.368/.500 line across 291 plate appearances on the season.

Pena (thumb) participated in all pregame activities prior to Thursday's matchup against the Yankees, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena has steadily increased his workload since landing on the 10-day injured list with left thumb discomfort last week, and he's eligible to be activated as early as Friday. While manager Dusty Baker said Thursday that a Friday return "might be a little quick," the skipper was pleased with Pena's progress, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the shortstop return sometime this weekend or early next week.

Diaz (shoulder) isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diaz has been dealing with a sore left shoulder and will be out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive game. He was available off the bench Wednesday but was ultimately held off the field. It wouldn't be surprising to see him available off the bench once again Thursday, whileMauricio Dubon will remain at shortstop and bat seventh.

Crawford went 2-for-4 with a two doubles, two RBI and a run in a win over the Athletics on Wednesday.

Crawford wreaked havoc out of the top of the order and knocked in the Mariners' seventh and eighth runs of the game with his fifth-inning double. The veteran shortstop's first multi-hit game since June 11 was a welcome sight, as it snapped a 4-for-34 funk that had encompassed his previous nine contests.

Downs was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Downs went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his MLB debut Wednesday after being called up Monday, but he'll return to Triple-A just one day later. The 23-year-old has struggled to a .180 batting average with 11 homers, 21 RBI, 35 runs and 11 stolen bases over 189 at-bats with Worcester this season. His demotion suggests Christian Arroyo (illness) is nearing a return from the COVID-19 injured list.

Crawford (knee) remains out of the lineup Thursday against Atlanta, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Crawford left Tuesday's game with a bruised left knee after an awkward slide at home plate and didn't participate in Wednesday's contest. While an MRI confirmed that Crawford has avoided structural damage, he'll sit for at least one more game, though manager Gabe Kapler suggested the 35-year-old could be available off the bench, according to Slusser. Thairo Estrada will again handle shortstop duties Thursday, with Wilmer Flores starting at second base.

Franco (quadriceps) went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Franco hit second and started at shortstop but didn't play the full game with two more rehab appearances on tap this week. Assuming all goes well across his three total games with Durham, Franco could be activated Saturday during Tampa Bay's three-game series against Pittsburgh.

Castillo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Wednesday against the Cubs.

Castillo led off the second inning to tally his fifth home run of the season. After going 27 games without a long ball, Castillo has gone yard three times in his last seven starts. He had begun to lose playing time to Hoy Park -- both Park and Castillo were in the lineup with Ke'Bryan Hayes getting a day off Wednesday -- but Castillo could begin to earn back playing time given his strong stretch at the dish.

Swanson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Giants.

Swanson started a ninth-inning comeback for Atlanta with his leadoff solo shot off Jake McGee. The long ball was his 10th of the campaign, giving him a double-digit homer total for the fifth straight season. Swanson has also racked up 11 stolen bases, making him one of just six major-leaguers with at least 10 homers and at least 10 thefts thus far.