MLB Player News

Fletcher (hip) went 1-for-3 with a double in Thursday's 2-0 loss to the Rangers.

Fletcher missed almost three months after undergoing adductor muscle surgery on both legs. He started at second base and moved to shortstop mid-game as part of a defensive realignment. The 28-year-old infielder is hitting .171 in 15 games this year, adding three doubles, a triple, two RBI and two runs scored. He may be eased back into action, but it's likely he takes on a fairly regular role within the next week.

Seager left Thursday's game against the Angels after fouling a ball off his leg, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Seager exited in the fifth inning and was diagnosed with a lower-leg contusion, and his removal was described by the team as precautionary. Elier Hernandez entered the game to play left field, while Josh Smith shifted to second base and Marcus Semien to shortstop.

Fletcher (hip) was activated from the 60-day injured list and will start at second base Thursday against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The 28-year-old has been sidelined since early May after undergoing surgery on the adductor muscles in both legs, but he's ready to rejoin the Halos after going 7-for-32 over a nine-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake. Fletcher should have an everyday role in the middle infield now that he's healthy, and his first big-league start in nearly three months will come at the keystone.

Manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Story is still experiencing discomfort in his right hand, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Cora didn't elaborate any further on Story's situation, but the skipper's comments would seem to suggest the 29-year-old won't be an option for this weekend's series with the Brewers. Story's ongoing absence should pave the way for Yolmer Sanchez and Jeter Downs to pick up more work at second base.

Diaz isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Mariners, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diaz started the last four games and went 3-for-15 with a double, three runs, a walk and a strikeout over that stretch. Chas McCormick is taking over in left field and batting seventh.

Witt (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.

Witt will be excluded from the starting nine for the fourth straight game, but he still appears to have a chance to avoid a trip to the injured list. According to Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star, Witt is scheduled to go through a full pregame workout Thursday that includes batting practice, potentially making him available off the bench in a pinch-hitting capacity. The Royals still elected to bring aboard Maikel Garcia from Double-A Northwest Arkansas as some added insurance in the middle infield while Witt tends to the hamstring injury, and Garcia will pick up his first MLB start at shortstop in the series opener.

Crawford went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run in a win over the Rangers on Wednesday.

The hot-hitting shortstop extended his on-base streak to 19 consecutive starts with Wednesday's production. Crawford boasts a .343 on-base percentage in the last eight games specifically, a stretch during which he has a trio of two-hit efforts.

Mateo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning loss to the Rays.

Mateo had the Orioles' lone extra-base hit of the contest, a one-out solo shot in the bottom of the ninth inning to force an extra frame. The shortstop's .215/.264/.370 slash line for the season is nothing special, but he's through 21 games in July he has a .279/.328/.508 line with two homers, five stolen bases, eight RBI, 12 runs scored, two triples and four doubles.. On the year, he's racked up 24 steals, eight long balls, 26 RBI and 37 runs scored while regularly batting at the bottom of the order.

Downs isn't starting Wednesday against the Guardians, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Downs went 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts over three games following the All-Star break and will retreat to the bench for a third consecutive matchup. Yolmer Sanchez is starting at the keystone and batting ninth.

Crawford, who went 2-for-4 with a run in a win over the Rangers on Tuesday, has now hit safely in each of the last 18 games during which he's registered a plate appearance.

The impressive streak dates back to June 28 and has seen Crawford produce a .271/.316/.343 slash line with seven RBI, four walks and 12 runs. Crawford has also struck out at just a 6.6 percent rate during that span, which has pushed his season-long figure down to a career-low 13.4 percent.