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  • Miguel Vargas 2B | CHW

    White Sox's Miguel Vargas: Slipping down order

    Vargas went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored Sunday against the Red Sox.

    Vargas served as the White Sox's leadoff hitter in 10 of the team's first 17 games, but he struggled mightily and had just a .429 OPS entering Sunday's game. He's remained an everyday player but has dropped to the bottom half of the order in each of his last three starts.

  • Josh H. Smith SS | TEX

    Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at DH

    Smith started at designated hitter against a right-hander and went 3-for-4 in Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Dodgers.

    Smith replaced a struggling Joc Pederson, who's batting just .055 (3-for-55). The season-opening slump may eventually cost Pederson his job as the DH against righties. Smith is hitting too well -- he's up to .378 following Sunday's loss -- to ignore and could gain a greater share of starts at DH going forward.

  • Dylan Moore 2B | TEX

    Mariners' Dylan Moore: Slugs fifth homer

    Moore went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-3 victory of the Blue Jays.

    The Seattle utility man drew the start at shortstop and occupied the leadoff spot. Moore popped a 364-foot solo shot off Easton Lucas on the third pitch of the game to give the Mariners the lead. Moore is enjoying a scorching start this season, slashing .316/.371/.596 with five homers, 12 runs scored and seven RBI while going 5-for-9 on steal attempts.

  • Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX

    Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Sent down to minors

    The Rangers optioned Duran to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

    Texas needed to clear a spot on the 26-man roster for the return of Wyatt Langford (oblique), and Duran was the recipient of a demotion. The 26-year-old has been unable to get going offensively this season, as he's 0-for-14 with four strikeouts so far. The Rangers will look for Duran to get his bat on track with Round Rock.

  • Josh H. Smith SS | TEX

    Rangers' Josh Smith: Key cog in winning rally

    Smith went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Dodgers.

    Smith returned to the lineup after missing four games due to a thumb injury, starting at first base and batted third. With Texas trailing by a run entering the bottom of the ninth inning, he led off the frame with a double before Adolis Garcia belted a walk-off home run. The double extended Smith's hit streak to five games, and overall he's slashing .341/.438/.512 through 48 plate appearances. He's helped fill the void in left field caused by the injury to Wyatt Langford (oblique), who could be activated ahead of Sunday's game. While there isn't a permanent home in the starting lineup for Smith, Bochy might consider using him at DH more often, given Joc Pederson's epic struggles to begin the season.

  • Ben Williamson 3B | SEA

    Mariners' Ben Williamson: Swats first career homer

    Williamson went 2-for-6 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 8-4 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays.

    Getting the start at third base and batting eighth, Williamson forced extras by leading off the seventh inning with a no-doubt homer to left field off Jose Berrios, tying the game at 3-3 and giving the 24-year-old his first career long ball. Williamson has started four of five games at the hot corner since receiving his first big-league promotion, batting .250 (5-for-20) with two RBI and four runs scored.

  • Josh H. Smith SS | TEX

    Rangers' Josh Smith: Back in lineup

    Smith (thumb) will start at first base and bat third Saturday against the Dodgers.

    Smith missed four consecutive games while managing a bruised thumb, but he seems to be fully recovered entering Saturday's contest. He'll make his first start back at first base, which will allow Dustin Harris to start in left field and bat seventh.

  • Andy Ibanez 3B | DET

    Tigers' Andy Ibanez: Goes deep in win

    Ibanez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-3 win over the Royals.

    Ibanez launched his second home run of the season in the fourth inning, but he was then lifted for a pinch hitter in the fifth. The utility player is struggling a bit to begin the year with a .171 average and .627 OPS across 13 games. Ibanez can provide some fantasy value in spurts, though his role in Detroit comes with plenty of day-to-day volatility.

  • Cam Smith 3B | HOU

    Astros' Cam Smith: Breaks out with two-homer game

    Smith went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Friday's 6-4 win over the Padres.

    Both long balls came off Kyle Hart, as Smith crushed a three-run blast in the second inning that left his bat at 107.8 mph before dropping a solo shot into the Crawford Boxes in the fourth. The 22-year-old rookie appears to be finding his footing in the majors, and since getting a couple days off to reset earlier in April, he's batting .290 (9-for-31) over the last nine games with all three of his big-league homers and 10 RBI.

  • Nicky Lopez 3B | ARI

    Angels' Nicky Lopez: DFA'd by Halos

    The Angels designated Lopez for assignment Friday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

    Lopez signed a major-league contract with the Angels in late March, but he's appeared in just six games for the Halos while going 0-for-6 at the plate. If he goes unclaimed off waivers or isn't traded, Lopez will have the option of remaining in the organization in Triple-A or exploring other opportunities by entering free agency. Zach Neto (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.

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