MLB Player News

Smith batted eighth and went 0-for-4 in Friday's 6-1 loss to Tampa Bay.

Smith extended a hitless run to 14 at-bats and hasn't got the bat working since coming off the injured list in late May. He's batting just .154 (8-for-52) with one home run and five RBI while mostly batting fifth in the order.

The Mets optioned Melendez to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

Melendez had a hot first couple weeks with the Mets in producing a 1.024 OPS in his first 16 games, but he stumbled to a .123/.273/.222 batting line over his last 40 contests. Tyrone Taylor (hip) has returned from the injured list in a corresponding move.

Wagaman went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in an extra-inning loss to the Cubs on Thursday.

Wagaman didn't start the contest, but he was called upon to pinch hit for MJ Melendez with a runner on second base in the sixth inning. That substitution worked out well for New York, as Wagaman clubbed a two-run homer to left field to give the team its first runs of the game. The long ball was the second of the season for Wagaman, who has seen sporadic playing time while up with the big-league club. He's started just twice in the Mets' past eight contests.

Schwarber (back) will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter and bat second Thursday against the Nationals.

Schwarber missed back-to-back starts while dealing with lower-back tightness, but he was able to enter Wednesday's contest as a pinch hitter and drew a walk during his lone plate appearance. Now healthy enough to start, he'll look to remain hot after slashing .306/.425/.597 with seven homers through 20 games in June.

Ohtani (8-2) earned the win Wednesday against the Twins, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out eight over six innings. He also went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.

Ohtani ran into trouble in the second inning, allowing four singles that led to three runs, though one scored on a passed ball by Dalton Rushing. After that, the two-way star settled in, retiring 13 of the final 15 batters he faced. He has now recorded 11 quality starts in 13 appearances this season. Ohtani continues to dominate on the mound, carrying a 1.58 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 86:24 K:BB into his next scheduled start against the Athletics. He's also continued to produce at the plate, raising his June batting average to .338 with seven home runs.

Schwarber (back) walked in his lone plate appearance during Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Nationals.

The All-Star slugger was out of the lineup for Philadelphia's past two games while tending to lower-back tightness, but he entered Wednesday's game as a pinch hitter and drew a clutch walk to set up Derek Hill's go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth inning. After coming off the bench, Schwarber appears to have a good chance of returning to the lineup for Thursday's series finale in Washington.

Wagner is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

Left-hander Martin Perez is on the bump for Atlanta, so the left-handed-hitting Wagner will head to the bench while the Padres go with Fernando Tatis at second base and Miguel Andujar at designated hitter. Since being called up from Triple-A El Paso on June 9, Wagner has staked his claim to a strong-side platoon role by producing a serviceable .276/.432/.310 slash line over 13 games.

Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

The left-handed-hitting Smith will head to the bench while the Cardinals send southpaw Matthew Liberatore to the bump Wednesday. Smith had started in each of Arizona's last four games, going 2-for-14 with two walks and an RBI.

Lowe is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

The Brewers are sending southpaw Shane Drohan to the bump for the series finale, so Reds manager Terry Francona will elect to give the lefty-hitting Lowe the evening off. Lowe started in each of Cincinnati's last seven games, going 5-for-20 with two doubles and a 2:8 BB:K during that stretch.

Schwarber (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals.

A late scratch ahead of Tuesday's 14-9 win due to lower-back tightness, Schwarber will wind up missing out on a second straight start while he tends to the injury. With Schwarber on the bench, the Nationals will give Bryce Harper a day off from playing first base but keep his bat in the lineup at designated hitter. Schwarber doesn't appear at major risk of landing on the injured list, with interim manager Don Mattingly telling Matt Gelb of The Athletic that the 33-year-old is showing improvement and could be back in the lineup for Thursday's series finale in Washington.