MLB Player News

Smith is absent from the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Orioles, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Dustin Harris will patrol right field for the Astros in the first game of the twin bill. Smith will likely be back at the position for Thursday's night game.

Bohm is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Giants.

The Phillies are going with Edmundo Sosa at third base in Thursday's matinee. Bohm should be back at the hot corner for the nightcap.

The Giants recalled McDonald from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

He will be the team's 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader versus the Phillies. The Giants have not announced a starting pitcher for the nightcap, but McDonald is a candidate to draw that assignment or eat some innings in long relief. He holds a 5.40 ERA and 12:15 K:BB in 15 innings this season with Sacramento.

Duran (oblique) will throw a bullpen session Thursday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

It will be the first time Duran has thrown off the mound since he was sidelined by a left oblique strain two weeks ago. The Phillies are optimistic that Duran will be ready to rejoin the active roster soon, though it's unclear whether he will travel with them to Miami for a series with the Marlins this weekend.

Hicks went 1-for-2 with two walks and a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Dodgers.

The 26-year-old sat out Tuesday's game due to an illness, but Hicks looked pretty healthy in his return to action when he led off the second inning by launching a Tyler Glasnow offering down the right-field line for his seventh homer of the year. It was Hicks' third long ball in his last four starts, and on the season he continues to boast an impressive .315/.365/.576 slash line over 104 plate appearances with one steal, 18 runs and 28 RBI -- tied with Matt Olson for second in the National League behind Sal Stewart's 29.

The Cardinals optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Fernandez has pitched well in his opportunities with the big club, posting a 1.59 ERA and 9:2 K:BB over 5.2 innings. However, the Cardinals needed to free a roster spot for Hunter Dobbins, who is starting Thursday in Pittsburgh, and Fernandez is the casualty.

The Cardinals activated Dobbins (knee) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Dobbins will start Thursday's game in Pittsburgh as the Cardinals shift to a temporary six-man rotation amidst a 17-day stretch with no off days. He'll be making his team and 2026 big-league debut after posting a 4.37 ERA and 19:9 K:BB over 22.2 innings in five rehab starts with Triple-A Memphis. Dobbins -- who was acquired from the Red Sox over the offseason -- is coming back from ACL surgery, which he underwent last July. He got his pitch count up to as high as 91 on his rehab assignment, so Dobbins should be capable of handling a full workload Thursday.

Miles walked one and struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief during Wednesday's win over the Red Sox.

The rookie Rule 5 pick handled the last two innings for the Blue Jays to protect a 7-1 lead, and Miles has no trouble with the assignment, tossing 16 of 26 pitches for strikes. While the 25-year-old right-hander has predictably been limited to low-leverage spots, he has looked like he belongs in the majors, producing a 2.87 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB through his first 15.2 MLB innings.

Clement went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox.

The 30-year-old infielder took Greg Weissert deep in the fourth inning for his first long ball of the season. Clement has hit safely in 15 of his last 18 games, slashing a sizzling .320/.338/.493 over that stretch with 10 doubles, six RBI and eight runs.

Ozuna is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Cardinals.

Ozuna is slumping again after a brief hot streak, having gone just 3-for-30 with a 1:11 BB:K over his last nine games. As a result, he has now been absent from the lineup three times in the last six contests. Ryan O'Hearn will get a start at designated hitter Thursday.