MLB Player News

Fletcher (hip) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and is starting Friday's game against the White Sox, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Fletcher participated in an extensive on-field workout Thursday, and the Angels ultimately deemed him healthy enough to return to action for Friday's series opener in Chicago. The 27-year-old is starting at shortstop and batting ninth Friday, and he's in line to serve as the Angels' everyday shortstop now that he's been activated.

Smith (ankle) was activated off the 10-day injured list Friday.

Smith wound up missing just the minimum 10 days with a bone bruise in his left ankle. He was featured heavily prior to his injury and will likely continue to earn regular playing time, though he'll have to hit a lot better than the .161/.212/.226 line he managed prior to his injury if he's to keep it.

Ahmed will sit Friday against the Cardinals.

Ahmed sits for the third time in eight games since his return from a shoulder injury last Friday. He's gone 5-for-16 with a homer and a pair of doubles but will sit here in favor of Geraldo Perdomo.

Abrams will be on the bench Friday against the Padres.

Each of Abrams' previous off days this season came against left-handers, but he'll sit here against righty Zach Thompson. He's struggled significantly at the plate through his first 14 major-league games as one might expect for a player skipping Triple-A after appearing just 42 times at the Double-A level, hitting .146/.255/.244. Ha-Seong Kim will be the shortstop Friday.

Rojas (jaw) is starting at shortstop and batting eighth Friday against the Mariners, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Rojas was diagnosed with a jaw contusion after being hit in the head by a pitch Thursday against the Nationals, but it's apparently not a serious concern since he's back in the lineup a day later. The 33-year-old has struggled early in 2022 with a .163/.212/.224 slash line through 14 games.

Witt went 1-for-5 with a stolen base in Thursday's 5-2 extra-innings win over the White Sox.

Witt stretched his hitting streak to seven games, during which he's gone 9-for-29 (.310). His steal came in his lone trip on base in the eighth inning after his single. The infielder has shown off his speed with four stolen bases in five attempts while adding a .206/.229/.294 slash line with five RBI and six runs scored in 70 plate appearances. He has four doubles and a triple, but Witt has yet to hit his first major-league home run.

Perdomo started at third base and went 0-for-2 with two walks in Thursday's 8-3 loss to the Cardinals.

This was Perdomo's second start at the hot corner, as the Diamondbacks find a way to give the prospect consistent plate appearances now that shortstop Nick Ahmed is back. It's not yet known if the organization will move Perdomo back to Triple-A once Josh Rojas (oblique) is also ready to return. In the past, the Diamondbacks have acknowledged Rojas' greatest asset is versatility, so they could have him fill a super-utility role instead of being the primary third baseman.

Edman went 2-for-4 with three runs, two RBI and a walk Thursday in an 8-3 win against Arizona.

Edman once again was a catalyst from the leadoff spot, scoring the Cardinals' first run in the first inning and crossing the plate again in each of the second and sixth frames. The second baseman also drove in a pair of runs while notching his fifth multi-hit game of the season. Edman is thriving to begin the campaign, slashing .323/.425/.532 with three homers, 11 RBI, 12 runs and four stolen bases across 74 plate appearances.

Swanson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's 5-1 win against the Cubs.

Swanson batted out of the nine spot in the order and was one of four Atlanta players with multiple hits. His third-inning solo shot traveled an estimated 432 feet and was his first long ball of the campaign. Swanson has reached based safely in six straight games and is batting .389 with five RBI and two steals over that stretch.

Seager went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored in a 3-2 loss Thursday against Houston.

Seager made it a one-run ballgame with his one-out, solo homer to straightaway center field in the ninth off Rafael Montero. It was his second homer of the season and first since April 14. Coming into Thursday's game, the shortstop was 4-for-28 with no extra-base hits in his previous seven games. Despite that slump, he still has a respectable .257 batting average and, with a .499 SLG in his career, his power should show up at some point.