MLB Player News

Aranda was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

He was up with the Rays for two days while Josh Lowe was on the family medical emergency list, but he'll now head back to Durham with Lowe back in the fold. Aranda has crushed Triple-A pitching again this season, but it hasn't led to much of an opportunity in the majors.

Montero was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque following Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Giants.

Montero will head back to Triple-A after being called up from Albuquerque on May 29. The 24-year-old produced a .145 average with four extra-base hits, including a homer, eight RBI and four runs scored over 55 at-bats in 18 games during his second stint with Colorado in 2023. Montero will look to hit for a higher average with Triple-A before potentially earning another call-up later this season.

Smith went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Sunday's win over the Rangers.

The first baseman will carry some momentum into the All-Star break after taking Dane Dunning deep in the fifth inning. Smith has only five homers on the season, but three of them have come in his last 13 games, a stretch in which he's slashing .295/.340/.523. On the downside, all three long balls came with the bases empty and he has no other RBI during that time, but if the 29-year-old stays hot in the second half, his production should catch up.

Diaz went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, four RBI and two runs in Sunday's 10-4 win against Atlanta.

The 31-year-old delivered his third straight multi-hit effort versus Atlanta, though he didn't have any extra-base hits or run production in the first two games of the series. The home run ends a 34-game span without a long ball for Diaz, though he still provided plenty of value atop the lineup during that stretch with a .301 average and .367 OBP.

Young is starting at first base and batting seventh in Sunday's game against the Yankees.

Young sat out the last two games but will return to the lineup Sunday to face Domingo German. Young has been slumping, going just 1-for-17 over his last six appearances, so he could fall out of favor at first with Trey Mancini taking on a larger role. Mancini is on the bench Sunday, however.

Wade is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Wade started the past five games, including two against left-handed pitchers, but he'll take a seat Sunday with southpaw Kyle Freeland pitching for Colorado. Wilmer Flores will start at first base and bat second in the final game of San Francisco's first half.

Hall is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Hall will hit the bench Sunday for the second straight game with lefty Jesus Luzardo pitching for Miami. Alec Bohm is covering first base while Edmundo Sosa starts at the hot corner.

Bell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Bell will get a breather for the Guardians' final game before the All-Star break after he had started at designated hitter or first base in each of the last 12 contests while slashing .234/.294/.404 over that stretch. With Bell sitting out Sunday, third baseman Jose Ramirez will get a day out of the field and serve as Cleveland's DH.

The Orioles reinstated Mountcastle (illness) from the 10-day injured list Sunday.

Per Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com, Mountcastle won't be included in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale in Minnesota, but the 26-year-old at least appears to be fully healthy again after a prolonged bout with vertigo. According to Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun, Mountcastle disclosed that he had been experiencing symptoms of vertigo before landing on the 10-day injured list June 13, including light-headedness that made the baseball appear "pea-sized" when he was at the plate. The condition may explain in part why Mountcastle struggled prior to landing on the IL and early on during his extended minor-league rehab assignment, but he settled back into a groove toward the end of his time in the minors. Over the final eight games of his 12-game assignment at Triple-A Norfolk, Mountcastle hit .300 with a pair of extra-base knocks. Though he's out of the lineup Sunday, Mountcastle should reclaim a near-everyday role coming out of the All-Star break.

Pratto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Pratto will close the Royals' first-half schedule on the bench after he started in each of the last 10 games while slashing .167/.244/.278 with a 46.3 percent strikeout rate. Matt Duffy will fill in at first base for the struggling Pratto.