MLB Player News

The Angels selected Walton's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.

Both Walton and Wade Meckler are joining the Halos, with Yoan Moncada (knee) going to the 10-day injured list and Josh Lowe being sent down to Salt Lake. Walton turns 32 years old Monday and is a career .172/.223/.298 hitter with four home runs, 23 RBI and 21 runs scored across 214 big-league plate appearances. He's slashed .282/.429/.481 with seven long balls, 33 RBI, 33 runs scored, three stolen bases and a 32:21 BB:K across 168 trips to the plate at Triple-A this season. Walton is starting at third base and batting ninth Friday against the Rangers.

Walton is starting at third base and batting ninth for the Angels in Friday's game against the Rangers, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Walton and Wade Meckler are both in Friday's lineup despite no official transactions being announced, though one expected move is for Yoan Moncada to go on the injured list due to a right knee injury, per Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Walton has spent the entire 2026 season with Triple-A Salt Lake, where he is slashing .282/.429/.481 with three steals, seven home runs and 33 RBI across 168 plate appearances. He could see some regular playing time at the hot corner for as long as Moncada is out of action.

The Angels placed Moncada on the 10-day injured list Friday with a right knee injury, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Moncada said Thursday that he's been dealing with knee problems lately, which helps explain why he's been absent from the lineup for each of the Angels' last three games. He received an MRI on Friday, and although the team is still waiting for the results, they'll move him to the IL to ensure he has time to recover. Donovan Walton was selected to the active roster in a corresponding move and will start at third base Friday against Texas, though Vaughn Grissom could also be in the mix for reps at the hot corner until Moncada returns.

Meckler is starting in left field and batting sixth for the Angels in Friday's game against the Rangers, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Official moves have yet to be announced, but Meckler's presence in the starting lineup -- along with Donovan Walton -- indicates that the Angels will make some moves to open up spots on the 26-man roster prior to Friday's game. Meckler has spent the majority of the 2026 season with Double-A Rocket City, where he is slashing .343/.449/.525 with six steals, four home runs and 12 RBI across 119 plate appearances. He last saw major-league action in 2023 with the Giants, when he went 13-for-56 (.232) with four RBI and six runs scored.

Lowe is not in the Angels' starting lineup against the Rangers on Friday, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Lowe will be on the bench for Friday's series opener while Wade Meckler, Mike Trout and Jo Adell start in the outfield from left to right. Lowe has gone 9-for-28 (.321) with one home run and four RBI over his last 11 games.

Manager John Schneider said Garcia (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Garcia hasn't pitched in the big leagues yet this season after undergoing a cleanup procedure on his elbow last September. He was sent out on a rehab assignment earlier this month but experienced a setback after just one outing. Garcia threw 30 pitches in Friday's bullpen and will look to avoid further issues, and he could make his return to Toronto's staff as soon as next week.

Lukes (hamstring) will travel to Toronto on Monday to determine whether he will be activated off the 10-day injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Lukes will be in the lineup for Single-A Dunedin over the weekend, and if he's progressed enough in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, then he could be reinstated from the IL for the start of Monday's home series against the Marlins. Yohendrick Pinango or Davis Schneider could be optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room on the Blue Jays' 26-man roster once Lukes is cleared to return.

Naylor is not in the Mariners' starting lineup against the Royals on Friday.

The Royals are sending southpaw Noah Cameron to the mound Friday, so the lefty-hitting Naylor will be on the bench while Patrick Wisdom starts at first base and bats fifth. Naylor is slashing .212/.263/.231 with six RBI in 57 plate appearances against left-handers this season.

Smith has been diagnosed with right shoulder soreness and received a cortisone injection Friday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

It's unclear if Smith will require a trip to the injured list, but Brenan Hanifee will be the next man up if Smith heads to the IL. Smith allowed one run on two hits and one walk with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning Thursday against the Guardians and figures to be unavailable for Friday's series opener against the Orioles.

Bieber (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Monday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The veteran right-hander is aiming to pitch two innings Monday. Bieber will then build up to three innings in his next outing, according to Zwelling. The Blue Jays will build him up slowly, but Bieber is on track to make his 2026 debut some time in June.