MLB Player News

Crawford isn't starting Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Crawford started in the last three games and went 2-for-12 with two RBI, a run and two strikeouts. Dylan Moore is starting at shortstop and batting eighth.

Marcano (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Thursday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Marcano tested positive for COVID-19 on June 17, but he recently appeared in three rehab games and went 1-for-9 with three runs, two stolen bases, four walks and two strikeouts. The 22-year-old carved out relatively consistent playing time leading up to his absence and should have a chance to regain at-bats after Yu Chang was designated for assignment Thursday.

Chang was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Thursday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old went 2-for-18 over his past nine games and will lose his spot on the 40-man roster with Tucupita Marcano (illness) returning from the COVID-19 injured list. Chang has appeared in 22 games between the Pirates and Guardians this year and has a .135/.237/.212 slash line in 59 plate appearances.

Crawford went 1-for-4 with a run-scoring infield single and a sacrifice fly in a win over the Orioles on Wednesday.

With his appeal of a five-game suspension still pending, Crawford was in the lineup once again and mustered his second multi-RBI effort in the last eight games. The veteran shortstop has been scuffling badly at the plate for the last two-plus weeks, producing a .125/.162/.172 slash line across his past 17 games.

Pena (mouth) is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale versus the Yankees.

He will miss Thursday's contest after he suffered a mouth laceration following a collision with Yordan Alvarez (head) in Wednesday's game. Pena was evaluated for a concussion and it remains unclear whether or not he's cleared the protocols. Pena will remain day-to-day heading into Friday's series opener against the Angels. Mauricio Dubon will start at shortstop and bat seventh against New York.

Smith went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Royals.

Smith left Tuesday's game with a calf injury but was back in the lineup at third base and leading off Wednesday. He's typically in the starting lineup against right-handers, while Charlie Culberson slots in at third base against lefties.

Baez went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Giants.

Baez's .222 batting average and .642 OPS for the season still don't look great, but he's been dialed in lately. The shortstop is batting .366 over his past 10 games with eight extra-base knocks. Fantasy managers can probably turn the page on Baez's early season struggles and expect solid numbers the rest of the way.

DeJong exited Wednesday's game with Triple-A Memphis after being hit by a pitch on the hand, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

DeJong has been at Memphis since being demoted May 10, and he has a .219/.264/.475 slash line with 11 home runs and 36 RBI in 39 games. He should be considered day-to-day since the specifics of the injury remain unclear.

Pena is being evaluated for a concussion following Wednesday's win over the Mets, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena is dealing with a mouth lateration but is also being examined for a concussion following Wednesday's outfield collision that forced him out of the game. The 24-year-old is traveling back to Houston with the team Wednesday, but it's not yet clear whether he'll be available to begin the Astros' series against the Yankees on Thursday.

Correa isn't in the lineup Wednesday against Cleveland.

Correa is getting a day off after he hit .324 with four homers, a double, seven runs and six RBI over the last nine games. Jorge Polanco is shifting to shortstop while Jose Miranda enters the lineup at first base.