MLB Player News

Bogaerts went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, one RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Angels.

The shortstop led off the sixth inning with a double and scored on a Christian Arroyo single. Bogaerts added an RBI double in the eighth to pull Boston within a run, but that was as close as it got. The 28-year-old went 0-for-8 in his last two games, but his performance Wednesday put an end to the mini-skid. For the year, he's slashing .323/.385/.535 with 13 home runs, 49 RBI, 54 runs scored, five stolen bases and 27 doubles through 348 plate appearances. He's racked up 100 hits in 82 games.

Swanson went 3-for-5 with a double, a walk, an RBI, a stolen base and two runs in Wednesday's 14-3 win over the Pirates.

It was a huge afternoon for Swanson, who entered Wednesday hitting .167 with one RBI in his previous eight games. The 27-year-old has been plagued by the strikeout, fanning in 30.9 percent of his 2021 at-bats and hitting just .233. That being said, it would likely take a further drop-off in production, and an extreme one at that, for Swanson to lose his grip on the starting shortstop job.

DeJong is starting at shortstop and batting seventh Wednesday at San Francisco, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old wasn't included in the Cardinals' initial starting nine for Wednesday's series finale, but he'll join the lineup with Tyler O'Neill (illness) sitting out. DeJong is hitting .164/.274/.301 with three homers, seven RBI and six runs in 24 games since returning from the injured list in mid-June.

DeJong is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Giants, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

DeJong is 4-for-22 over his past seven games and will take a seat for the second time in the past three days. Edmundo Sosa will work at shortstop for the Cardinals as DeJong continues to struggle offensively in 2021.

Baez was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Phillies with a sprained right thumb.

Baez hit a pair of homers Tuesday and has two hits in each of the past three games, and it's unclear when he sustained the thumb injury. He should be considered day-to-day while Sergio Alcantara receives the start at shortstop Wednesday.

Strange-Gordon signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Strange-Gordon opted out of his deal with the Cubs on Tuesday, but he'll land another minor-league contract a day later. While the 33-year-old has been assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis for now, he could serve as an option for the major-league club in the near future with Erik Gonzalez (side) unavailable and Adam Frazier included in trade rumors. Strange-Gordon has hit .259 with two home runs, 23 runs, 11 RBI and five stolen bases across 37 Triple-A games to begin the year.

Wendle isn't starting the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Wendle went 1-for-3 with a double and two runs in Wednesday's matinee, but he'll retreat to the bench with left-hander Sam Hentges starting the second game. Wander Franco will shift to third base while Taylor Walls starts at shortstop.

Witt is back in the starting lineup Wednesday at Double-A Northwest Arkansas after missing one game due to an ankle injury.

Witt exited Sunday's game after tweaking his right ankle. The top prospect said Monday he expected to be good to go Tuesday, but the club ultimately decided to give him one more day to heal up. Witt will bring a .296/.366/553 slash line and 13 home runs with him into Wednesday's matchup.

Mondesi (oblique) participated in light fielding drills ahead of Wednesday's game against the Reds, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Mondesi has been on the injured list with a left oblique strain since June 21, but he's now resumed some baseball activities. The shortstop was able to field grounders during pregame warmups, although it's worth noting he didn't throw during the drills. The 25-year-old still doesn't have a clear timetable to return, and a better idea of his status could come into focus once he's able to ramp up his intensity.

Cruz has been diagnosed with a forearm strain, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Cruz was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list Tuesday after he had experienced forearm soreness recently. However, Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that he doesn't believe the injury is particularly serious, and the right-hander could return after 2-to-3 weeks.