MLB Player News

Smith started at third base and went 0-for-2 with a walk in Monday's 7-0 loss to the Cubs.

Smith has been the primary fill-in at third base while Josh Jung (neck) worked his way back from the 10-day injured list. Jung's IL stint is expected to end Tuesday, when the Rangers plan to activate him. That means Smith will be free to play one of the many other positions on his resume. Smith batted .350 (7-for-20) over seven games since Jung was placed on the IL.

Polanco went 1-for-4 with a two-run single and a stolen base in Monday's 4-3 win over Houston.

After missing Seattle's previous two games with side soreness, Polanco delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning to help power the Mariners to victory. The veteran switch-hitter has dealt with some nagging injuries in the early going, but he's been highly effective when healthy while hitting .417 with two long balls, 10 RBI and one stolen base over 24 at-bats (seven games).

Lewis (hamstring) is likely three weeks away from being cleared to begin a rehab assignment, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Lewis was officially given the green light to start a running progression Saturday, but he's not yet close to ramping up his baseball activity or seeing live action. Even so, he's been encouraged by the process he's seen thus far in his rehab. "Any time they let me do something more, it's always pretty good," said Lewis. "I'll probably run three days in a row, take a break, then try to get on the bases. It's a long progression." Lewis suffered the left hamstring strain March 16 while running to first base and will presumably need at least a few games in the minors before the club considers activating him from the 10-day injured list.

Ibanez went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer in Monday's win over the Yankees.

Ibanez opened the game's scoring with his third-inning long ball, which proved to be the deciding factor in the 6-2 victory. It was his first extra-base hit of the season. After starting in an 0-for-9 rut through four games, he's collected a hit in each of his last three appearances. Ibanez is slashing .158/.273/.316 through 22 plate appearances.

Smith isn't listed in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.

The Astros have elected to give Smith a second straight day off following a 2-for-18 start at the dish through his first six games. Mauricio Dubon gets the call in right field and will bat ninth in Smith's absence.

Polanco (side) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Monday's game versus the Astros, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Polanco missed the previous two contests with side soreness that was originally reported as knee soreness but is feeling well enough to give it a go in the series opener against the division rival Astros. The switch hitter sports a scorching .450/.476/.750 batting line with two home runs in the early going this season.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander clarified Monday that a sore side is what has kept Polanco out of the lineup for the past two games, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.

Manager Dan Wilson had said it was soreness in Polanco's surgically repaired left knee that had sidelined the infielder, but evidently the skipper misspoke. Hollander expects Polanco to be back in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Astros.

Saggese will start at third base and bat sixth against the Pirates on Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Saggese wasn't initially in the Cardinals' starting nine, but he's a late addition due to Nolan Arenado being scratched due to an illness and general soreness. Saggese went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, one home run and four RBI across the Cardinals' doubleheader against the Red Sox on Sunday.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Arenado was scratched from the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates due to an illness and soreness, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The illness isn't believed to be anything significant, but Arenado will need at least one day off to recover. With Arenado out of the lineup for the first time this season, Thomas Saggese will pick up a start at third base and will bat sixth.

Shaw is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers.

Shaw will give way to Gage Workman at third base after starting in each of the Cubs' previous seven games. While he's shown a patient eye at the plate with a 17.6 percent walk rate over his 51 plate appearances, Shaw has yet to provide much value in traditional 5x5 category leagues. He enters Monday's contest with a .190 batting average to go with one home run, 10 runs, three RBI and zero stolen bases.