MLB Player News

Slumping Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada has been benched for the Thursday afternoon game in Washington. Wilmer Flores is set to start instead.

Tejada has a hit in just three of the last 10 games in which he received a plate appearance and seven of his last 20. His average has fallen from .246 to .226 since July 8.

The Diamondbacks activated infielder Cliff Pennington (thumb) off the 15-day disabled list prior Wednesday's game against the Royals. Pitcher Bo Schultz was optioned to Triple-A Reno to clear a roster spot.

Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon wasn't in the starting lineup Sunday against the Cubs for the first time since July 5. It was just the seventh time since April 24 he was not in the starting lineup.

"It wasn't really planned," manager Don Mattingly said of the day off, per MLB.com. "I was kind of trying to wait for a lefty. Different coaches were coming to me like, 'It looks like Dee needs a day.' Just, I think, leg-wise and things like that.

"I think Dee's at the point where he wants to play every day, and he's kind of probably a little bit nervous about saying he needs a day. We understand that. I think that's where coaches are important, the guys who are dealing with him every day, seeing him every day, maybe he has a little more confidence in saying that one little word that tells you, 'Yeah, I need a day.' We'll be careful with him. We'll see where is. He's pretty young. I think he'll keep up the pace."

Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers has announced that the deal that shipped Martin Prado to the Yankees has Jordan Pacheco and Cliff Pennington set to platoon at third base.

Pacheco will handle the duties until Pennington returns from a thumb injury. He owns a .259/.312/.376 stat line and has yet to go deep this season.

The Red Sox will recall Will Middlebrooks Triple-A Pawtucket prior to Friday's game against the Yankees. He is expected to serve as the everyday third baseman, shifting Xander Bogaerts to shortstop moving forward, MassLive.com reports.

The Indians have announced a pair of roster moves prior to Thursday's home game against the Mariners. They recalled right-hander Austin Adams and optioned infielder Zach Walters from Triple-A Columbus.

The Nationals have sent infielder Zach Walters to the Indians in exchange for shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, according to numerous media reports Thursday.

Walters, 24, is hitting .205/.279/.462 in 39 at-bats for the Nationals this season, but was hitting .300/.358/.608 in 60 games at Triple-A Syracuse prior to being called up. 

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada returned to the starting lineup during Wednesday's 11-2 win against the Phillies, and for one day at least quieted the speculation he might get supplanted at shortstop by Wilmer Flores.

Tejada went 3 for 4 with one run, one RBI and one walk in the win. He entered the game mired in a 4-for-38 slump in his previous 14 games.

Red Sox infielder Xander Bogaerts got his bat going late Tuesday against the Blue Jays, but it was not enough in a 4-2 loss.

Bogaerts went 2 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts, and also scored once and drove in one run with his ninth inning solo home run. He has been unable to snap out of his long slump as Bogaerts is hitting just .213/.241/.307 in 75 at-bats during the month of July.  

Bogaerts has failed to live up to expectations as a rookie, with a batting line of just .241/.311/.362 with eight home runs and 26 RBI in 98 games. 

Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings still hasn't taken live batting practice, according to MLB.com.

Owings has been sidelined since June 25 with a shoulder injury. He's been slow to recover. There's currently no timetable for his return. Owings was hitting .277/.313/.458 over 238 at-bats.