MLB Player News

The Angels optioned Lowe to Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.

Lowe has underperformed during his first season in Anaheim, slashing .184/.226/.320 with five homers, 14 RBI and eight runs scored across 134 plate appearances. The Angels will now send him down to the minors to get back on track, and Wade Meckler will come up from Salt Lake to fill the active roster spot and possibly take over as the big club's primary left fielder.

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 Walt Weiss said Friday that Smith-Shawver (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions, and the next step in his rehab is to face live hitters, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

There hasn't been much info on Smith-Shawver's progress from Tommy John surgery, but Weiss said the right-hander has been throwing high-intensity bullpens, and it sounds like he's close to facing hitters. Once Smith-Shawver gets in some live batting practice, he'll likely then head out on an extended rehab assignment before having a chance to rejoin Atlanta's rotation later this summer.

Fermin is not in the Padres' starting lineup against the Athletics on Friday.

Fermin will get a breather Friday while Rodolfo Duran starts behind home plate and bats ninth. Fermin has struggled at the plate this season, and since May 1 he's gone 5-for-40 (.125) with a 2:9 BB:K.

Merrill (ribs) is not in the Padres' starting lineup against the Athletics on Friday.

As expected, Merrill will not be in Friday's lineup after sustaining a rib injury while colliding with the outfield wall during Wednesday's game against the Dodgers. Ramon Laureano, Bryce Johnson and Nick Castellanos will man the outfield from left to right for San Diego in Merrill's absence.

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.