MLB Player News

Baez (back) will sit for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

Baez has been dealing with hip and back issues for the past few days and hasn't started since Sunday. He isn't expected to start the second game of the day either, per Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News, though he'll be available off the bench. Jonathan Villar starts at shortstop in his absence.

Correa went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Rockies.

Correa added insurance in the seventh inning when he doubled home Michael Brantley, who had singled before him. The shortstop has reached base safely in eight straight contests. Correa is slashing .271/.364/.477 with 18 home runs and 61 RBI over 104 games in the midst of a contract year.

Bogaerts went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, four RBI, three runs scored and two walks Wednesday against the Rays.

Bogaerts delivered a three-run homer against Francisco Mejia in the eighth inning of a blowout game. It was his 17th long ball of the campaign and only his second since the All-Star break. Though he's been quiet in that 22-contest stretch, Bogaerts is riding a modest four-game hitting streak -- three of which have been multi-knock efforts. Even after this modest period of production, Bogaerts still maintains a .307/.375/.514 line across 451 plate appearances on the season.

Diaz went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and three RBI in Wednesday's 5-1 win over Colorado.

The infielder was productive in Wednesday's win, as all three of his hits drove in runs. He's posted multiple hits in three of his last four games, going 8-for-16 with three doubles and six RBI in that span. Diaz lifted his slash line to .298/.348/.485 with six home runs, 32 RBI, 22 runs scored and 14 doubles through 184 plate appearances. He should continue to log regular playing time at third base until Alex Bregman (quadriceps) is able to return, at which point Diaz will likely slip back into a utility role.

Bichette (shins) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels, and manager Charlie Montoyo said the shortstop "isn't feeling great," Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Bichette played in both games of Tuesday's doubleheader after sitting out Sunday with bruises in both shins, and he continues to nurse the injuries after the twin bill. It doesn't appear to be a serious concern, and the 23-year-old should be considered day-to-day. Marcus Semien will shift to shortstop Wednesday while Breyvic Valera starts at the keystone.

Baez (back) isn't starting the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Baez wasn't in Tuesday's lineup due to tightness in his lower back, but he appeared as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout. He'll likely be available off the bench again in Wednesday's nightcap, but Jonathan Villar will start at shortstop and bat seventh.

Smith was promoted to Double-A Frisco on Wednesday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Smith was part of the trade in which Joey Gallo went from the Rangers to the Yankees in late July. The 24-year-old has appeared in nine games at High-A Hickory, and he slashed .295/.367/.432 with a home run, three doubles, 10 runs, seven RBI and two stolen bases.

McLain debuted for High-A Dayton on Wednesday, starting at shortstop while going 4-for-5 with a home run, a double and five RBI.

McLain, the No. 17 overall pick in July's first-year player draft, appeared in two games for the Reds' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate before Cincinnati assigned him to High-A. The fact that McLain is bypassing Low-A entirely isn't completely shocking, given that he was regarded as one of the more advanced hitters of his draft class following a three-year college career at UCLA. A move to second base or center field may be in the cards for McLain down the road, but his excellent hit tool, plus baserunning skills and burgeoning pop make him an intriguing player to monitor in dynasty leagues.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz (forearm) has resumed taking full swings in the batting cage, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Pittsburgh anticipates that Cruz will take another step forward in his recovery from a forearm strain later in the week, when he's scheduled to face pitching in live batting practice. Because Cruz has been out since late June with the injury, he'll likely require a rehab assignment in the lower levels of the minors before Double-A Altoona reinstates him from the 7-day injured list.

Rojas will start at shortstop and bat leadoff Wednesday in San Diego, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

With Jazz Chisholm having moved back to the COVID-19 injured list earlier this week after a brief return to the active roster, Rojas has locked down the Marlins' leadoff job. Rojas could end up sticking as the Marlins' table setter once Chisholm returns, given how well he's performed of late. He'll carry a six-game hitting streak into Wednesday's series finale, with Rojas having gone 9-for-23 with a home run, two doubles, two stolen bases, a walk, five runs and three RBI over that stretch.