MLB Player News

Bateman (hamstring) is leading off and playing center field Friday against the Yankees.

Bateman was removed from Wednesday's game with right hamstring tightness and sat out Thursday's contest against the Rays. Through his first 51 plate appearances in the big leagues, Bateman is slashing .271/.314/.313 with two doubles, four RBI, four runs scored, one stolen base and a 3:10 BB:K. He's played above-average defense in center field.

Chisholm is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.

With lefty Mason Fluharty serving as the opener for Toronto, the Yankees are starting Jose Caballero at second base. Chisholm is hitting just .157 with a .514 OPS across 58 plate appearances this month.

Aranda is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.

It appears to be a routine night off for the first baseman, as Liam Hicks will shift to first base and bat eighth against Orioles lefty Taylor Rogers. Aranda has been in an extended slump, slashing just .244/.283/.290 since the All-Star break. He has just one home run, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored and a 7:39 BB:K across 138 plate appearances during that span.

Fried (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

Fried was placed on the injured list earlier this week due to a bone bruise in his left elbow. It's the same injury he dealt with earlier this season, but Fried said it's not as severe this time, and he needs to clean up his mechanics to avoid re-injury. Manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Fried's stay on the 15-day IL could be around the minimum.

Pena (hand) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Pena will miss a second straight start after he was hit in the hand by a pitch Wednesday and removed from the game. Nick Allen is making the start at shortstop and batting ninth Friday. Pena was fielding grounders in pregame warmups, however, so his absence could be brief.

The Royals optioned Duran to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

The 25-year-old picked up the win Tuesday against the Athletics but then surrendered two runs on one hit and three walks while recording just one out Thursday. After throwing 35 pitches in three days, Duran will head back down in favor of Jose Cuas.

The Royals recalled Cuas from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Cuas spent 96 hours at Omaha but will rejoin Kansas City's bullpen. He's appeared in 10 games for the Royals this season, allowing two runs on 12 hits and four walks with 13 strikeouts across 11 innings.

The Royals recalled Lugo from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Lugo was scooped up off waivers from the Angels in June and slashed .271/.320/.531 with 11 homers, 36 RBI, 36 runs scored, three stolen bases and a 14:58 BB:K across 226 trips to the plate with Omaha. He'll provide some outfield depth for the Royals and could see at-bats against left-handed pitching.

Caglianone (ankle) is starting in right field and batting third Friday against the Tigers.

Caglianone was removed from Wednesday's game against the Athletics with right ankle soreness and was held out of the lineup Thursday. He's good to go for Friday's series opener and has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball in the month of August, slashing .438/.463/.750 with five homers, 20 RBI, 11 runs scored, three stolen bases and a 2:8 BB:K across 67 plate appearances.

The Blue Jays placed Smith on the 10-day injured list Friday with left hamstring inflammation.

Smith started and played the entire game Wednesday against the Rays, so it's unclear when he injured his hamstring. The utility man is 7-for-28 at the plate with two homers, three RBI, eight runs scored, one stolen base and a 3:11 BB:K in 14 games with the Blue Jays. Davis Schneider has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.