MLB Player News
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Not in Sunday's lineup
Smith (quadricep) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Smith exited Saturday's contest after sustaining a quad contusion on a collision with the fence in foul territory, and he'll step out of the lineup for at least one game. According to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News, the Rangers are optimistic Smith will return to action Monday in Cincinnati. If he's cleared to play in the series opener versus the Reds, Smith could move into a full-time role at third base in the short term after Josh Jung (neck) was placed on the injured list Sunday.
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Nick Maton DH | CHW
White Sox's Nick Maton: Getting another start versus righty
Maton will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff in Sunday's game against the Angels.
Maton will serve as the White Sox's DH for the second day in a row, with both of those starts coming against right-handed pitching. At least until the White Sox get Josh Rojas (toe) or Mike Tauchman (hamstring) back from the injured list, Maton is getting a look as a strong-side platoon player.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Guardians' Jose Ramirez: Imaging negative, still day-to-day
Manager Stephen Vogt said imaging on Ramirez's right wrist came back negative, and the third baseman could be available as a pinch hitter Sunday against the Royals, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
The 32-year-old suffered a right wrist sprain on a slide while attempting to steal a base Saturday, but he's avoided a serious injury and may be available off the bench Sunday. Ramirez could return to the lineup as early as Monday in San Diego, though he could miss another day or two, with Vogt noting that the Guardians "want to be super cautious" so that the star third baseman's injury "doesn't turn into something that's going to linger."
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Junior Caminero 3B | TB
Rays' Junior Caminero: Out of Sunday's lineup
Caminero is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Caminero went 4-for-9 with a double and a run scored in the first two games of the season but will hit the bench for Sunday's series finale. Jose Caballero will instead start at third base and bat seventh.
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Jonathan Ornelas SS | ATL
Rangers' Jonathan Ornelas: Moves up from Triple-A
The Rangers recalled Ornelas from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Texas will bring Ornelas aboard to provide some extra infield depth while Josh Jung (neck) is on the injured list. Jung's absence is unlikely to open up regular at-bats for Ornelas, as Josh Smith (quadricep) and Ezequiel Duran will be ahead of him on the depth chart at third base.
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Jordan Westburg 2B | BAL
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Getting rest Sunday
Westburg is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
He hasn't suffered any reported injuries through the Orioles' first three games, so manager Brandon Hyde seems to be giving the 26-year-old infielder a planned day off for the series finale in Toronto after Westburg went 6-for-13 with three solo home runs, a walk and an additional run to begin the season. Jackson Holliday will slide over from shortstop to fill in at second base.
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Heads to IL with neck spasms
The Rangers placed Jung (neck) on the 10-day injured list Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Jung battled neck stiffness late in spring training, but he was cleared ahead of Opening Day and started in the Rangers' first two games, going 3-for-7 with an RBI. However, he was held out of the lineup for Saturday's 4-3 win over the Red Sox after the neck spasms cropped up again, and the Rangers have now decided to shut Jung down for a bit. Per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, manager Bruce Bochy said that he's hoping Jung will need only a minimum-length stay on the shelf, so the 27-year-old third baseman could be back in action as soon as April 8.
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Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B | CIN
Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Not starting Sunday
Hayes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Hayes has gone 2-for-13 with two runs and two steals through the first three games of the season, and he'll head to the bench for Sunday's series finale. Jared Triolo will step in at the hot corner and bat seventh.
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Graham Pauley 3B | MIA
Marlins' Graham Pauley: Sitting against lefty
Pauley is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Pauley went 2-for-6 with a double and an RBI over the Marlins' first two games of the season, but he'll head to the bench for a second straight day with Pittsburgh sending another southpaw (Andrew Heaney) to the bump. Jonah Bride will step in at third base for the lefty-hitting Pauley, who looks poised to fill a strong-side platoon role until Connor Norby (oblique) is ready to return from the injured list.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Guardians' Jose Ramirez: Out of Sunday's lineup
Ramiriez (wrist) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
The third baseman suffered a sprained right wrist on a stolen-base attempt during the third inning Saturday, so it's not a surprise he'll be out of the starting nine for at least one game. Ramirez is undergoing additional testing and should be considered day-to-day in the meantime. Gabriel Arias will shift to the hot corner while Daniel Schneemann starts at second base in the series finale at Kansas City.