MLB Player News

Smith started at third base and went 0-for-4 in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Athletics.

Smith made his fourth start in the last five games, all against right-handers. Unfortunately for Smith, it's been a squandered opportunity, as he's gone 1-for-14 in the four starts. His usage has yo-yoed all season, and with news that Josh Jung (thumb) could return next week, Smith's opportunities should dry up.

Anderson (neck) is starting at shortstop and batting in the leadoff spot Friday against the Tigers.

Neck stiffness caused Anderson to be a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup, but the issue seems to have subsided after an extra day of rest. The 30-year-old shortstop is 4-for-18 with three runs scored since the start of September.

McCoy was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

The utility player is the roster casualty as the Blue Jays bring back Bo Bichette from the injured list. McCoy was hitless in two plate appearances during his brief time in the majors.

Bichette (quad) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

It's the first day Bichette was eligible to return, and he has rejoined a Blue Jays club that currently sits a half game up on the Rangers for the final wild-card spot in the American League. Bichette did not go out on a rehab assignment, so a little rust is possible, but fantasy managers will be happy to stick him back into their lineups as soon as they're able.

Paris went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run, an RBI and two stolen bases in a 3-2 win against the Guardians on Thursday.

Paris was active in the contest, walking and stealing a base in the third inning and adding another theft after reaching on an error in the fifth. The rookie then came up with arguably his biggest big-league hit to date in the ninth, tying the score with a clutch one-out single and subsequently crossing the plate for the winning run on a Randal Grichuk base hit. Paris has gone just 2-for-16 over his first seven major-league contests, though he's added four walks and three stolen bases.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said Wednesday that Neto (back) will remain on his rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake through Saturday before being re-evaluated, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Neto could be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's series finale versus the Guardians if the Angels' training staff is satisfied with his health upon re-evaluating him, but it's more likely that the shortstop returns to the Anaheim lineup early next week. The 22-year-old has gone 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a walk through the first two games of his rehab assignment and will have off Thursday before returning to the Salt Lake lineup Friday and Saturday. Once activated, Neto should take back the reins as the Halos' everyday shortstop while rookie Kyren Paris fades into more a utility role or gets optioned back to Triple-A.

Brito is slashing .280/.369/.450 with nine home runs, three steals and a 17.8 percent strikeout rate in 78 games with Double-A Akron.

Brito, who turns 22 later this month, has made 44 starts at second base, 24 starts at third base and eight starts at shortstop with the RubberDucks. Unlike many other recent Guardians middle infielders, Brito projects to bring more value with his bat than his glove. He is already on the 40-man roster and should make his big-league debut next season.

Crawford went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in a win over the Reds on Wednesday.

Crawford came through with the Mariners' most impactful hit of the game, slugging a 382-foot shot to right with Ty France and Josh Rojas aboard in the fourth inning to extend Seattle's lead to 6-1. The homer was Crawford's fifth in the last 12 games, an atypical power surge that has pushed his career-high total in that category to 15. Moreover, all three components of Crawford's .271/.389/.437 slash line are also career-best figures by wide margins.

Smith went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in a win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Just recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, the 27-year-old paid immediate dividends via a 398-foot shot to left center in the sixth inning with Jordan Diaz and Carlos Perez aboard. Smith had been running hot at the plate for the Aviators during his just-concluded 19-game stint on the farm, slashing .351/.392/.635 with nine extra-base hits and 20 RBI. However, Smith has raked in the hitter-friendly environment of the PCL before and then sputtered against big-league arms, so Wednesday's breakout represented a particularly encouraging start to his latest stay with the Athletics.

Anderson was scratched from the lineup Wednesday versus the Royals due to neck stiffness, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Elvis Andrus will replace him at both shortstop and leadoff as the White Sox wrap up their three-game series against Kansas City. Anderson also battled some neck discomfort in mid-August but it cost him only two games. Perhaps he can utilize Thursday's scheduled team off day to avoid another multi-game absence.