MLB Player News

Smith (lower body/wrist) was diagnosed with viral meningitis Friday and is receiving treatment in a hospital, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Smith is expected to remain in the hospital for 7-to-10 days. The 28-year-old utility man had already been dealing with a glute strain and a wrist issue, and there's currently no telling when he'll be back in the Rangers' lineup. Ezequiel Duran has been making regular starts at second base with Smith sidelined.

Seager is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

Seager is 0-for-27 at the plate over his last seven-plus games and will get a breather as Ezequiel Duran moves over to shortstop for Texas. On the season, Seager is slashing a disappointing .179/.286/.353 with seven home runs, 20 RBI, 22 runs scored, one stolen base and a 22:50 BB:K across 182 plate appearances.

Martin went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI, a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Thursday's 9-1 win over Miami.

Filling in as Minnesota's leadoff man for the injured Byron Buxton (hip) on Thursday, Martin responded with one of his best showings at the plate all season. The outfielder racked up a season-high three RBI, turning in his fourth multi-hit game in his last six outings. Although Martin hasn't offered much in the way of power, he's batting a torrid .333 with one home run, 11 RBI, 22 walks and seven stolen bases over 105 at-bats.

Freeman (back) will begin a rehab assignment with the Rangers' Arizona Complex League affiliate Thursday.

Freeman missed most of spring training due to a stress reaction in his lower back but has been cleared for games after a long rehab process. Because he's been sidelined for so long, Freeman's rehab assignment could last a while. When the Rangers decide the 25-year-old is ready to rejoin the active roster, he'll fill a utility role.

Montgomery is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

The lefty-swinging Montgomery was in the lineup the last five times the White Sox went up against a traditional lefty hurler, but he'll take a seat in Thursday's series finale as the Royals send southpaw Kris Bubic to the bump. Luisangel Acuna is grabbing a start at shortstop while Montgomery rests.

Antonacci is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

The left-handed-hitting Antonacci batted ninth the last two times the White Sox faced a lefty, but he'll be out of the lineup altogether for this one as the Royals send southpaw Kris Bubic to the bump. Randal Grichuk is in left field and batting cleanup for Chicago.

Pena (hamstring/neck) hopes to resume his rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena has lingering neck soreness after being involved in a collision with a runner during Tuesday's game at Corpus Christi. He'll sit out a second straight game Thursday but is aiming to return to action Friday. Pena -- who initially went on the 10-day injured list just over a month ago with a right hamstring strain -- could be activated as soon as this weekend if all goes well.

Duran went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-5 win over Arizona.

Duran laced a two-out, RBI double and scored in the ninth inning as part of the Rangers' three-run rally to overcome a 5-3 deficit. He's finding a comfortable home at second base due to Josh Smith (wrist/lower body) being sidelined on the injured list. Duran has hit safely in 10 off 11 contests, slashing .325/.404/.600 with six extra-base hits, eight RBI, one steal and eight runs scored during that stretch. Given that Duran has been good against pitchers of either hand, he could take over as the club's primary second baseman, which had been Smith's job prior to his injury.

Story went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Phillies.

Story opened the scoring in the second inning with a 424-foot blast off Andrew Painter, his third homer this year and first since April 15. Coming into Wednesday, Story had gone just 6-for-32 (.188) with a lone extra-base hit in his prior eight games. Overall, he's slashing .211/.250/.311 with 19 RBI, 16 runs scored and four steals across 172 plate appearances this season.

Hernaiz went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Cardinals.

Hernaiz looked to be losing his grip on a starting role at third base last week, but the absence of Jacob Wilson (shoulder) has opened up shortstop for the foreseeable future. Hernaiz will need to hit his way into keeping the job -- this was just his second multi-hit effort of the campaign. The infielder is batting a passable .250, but he has a .638 OPS with one home run, five RBI, seven runs scored and two stolen bases over 69 plate appearances. He doesn't appear to have much upside unless his bat gets hot.