MLB Player News

Fletcher (hip) has gone 1-for-8 with a run scored through three rehab games with Triple-A Salt Lake.

Fletcher kicked off the rehab assignment Tuesday, and he's had an uneventful three games thus far. The good news is that the utility man, who underwent surgery to repair the adductor muscles in both legs May 10, was able to play three straight days without suffering any setbacks, starting twice at second base and once as the designated hitter. Fletcher is expected to be ready to return to the Angels on July 28.

Anderson went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored Friday against the Twins.

Anderson took Emilio Pagan yard in the fourth inning to record his sixth homer of the season. Entering the game, Anderson had failed to homer in 27 consecutive starts and has just a .109 ISO on the season. Despite the lack of power, Anderson has found other ways to be productive, particularly by hitting .313, scoring 42 runs and swiping 11 bags across 282 plate appearances for the campaign.

Chang went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 5-4 win against the Orioles.

Chang laced two RBI doubles in Friday's victory, one in the fourth inning and another in the sixth. In six appearances since being claimed off waivers by the Rays, the 26-year-old utility man has gone 6-for-16 (.375) with three RBI and six strikeouts. Through 75 plate appearances with Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Pittsburgh this season, Chang is slashing .191/.267/.279.

Crawford (finger) remains sidelined Friday against the Rangers, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Crawford was scratched Thursday due to a bruised right index finger and will sit for at least one more game. He hopes to return over the weekend, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports, but with just two days remaining before the All-Star break, it's possible he remains out of the lineup in order to give his finger a full week to heal. Dylan Moore starts at shortstop again Friday.

Smith will sit for the second straight game Friday against Seattle.

Smith has started just twice against a lefty this season, so it's no surprise to see him on the bench against a second consecutive lefty in Robbie Ray here. Charlie Culberson will get the start at third base.

Story (finger) isn't starting Friday's game against the Yankees, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Story will be out of the lineup for a third consecutive game as he continues to deal with a finger injury. Whether he's available off the bench remains to be seen, but Jeter Downs will start at the keystone and bat ninth Friday.

Smith, who was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on June 13, has produced a .208/.257/.228 slash line over his first 25 games with the Aviators.

Smith has alarmingly struck out at a higher clip (31.2 percent) with Las Vegas than he did with the Athletics (27.8 percent), and his batting average and OBP are only marginally better than the .180 and .216 figures he generated at the big-league level. The 26-year-old did post a .285 average and .931 OPS with Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization last season, and he figures to remain at Las Vegas trying to iron out the kinks unless injuries necessitate a promotion.

Velazquez stole a base as a pinch runner in Thursday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Astros.

Velazquez replaced Michael Stefanic atop the lineup, recording a steal in the eighth inning. Through nine games in July, Velazquez has two steals, but he's gone just 2-for-15 (.133) at the plate and appears unlikely to escape a bench role. The shortstop is slashing .170/.211/.266 with five home runs, 12 steals, 20 RBI and 23 runs scored in 234 plate appearances this year.

Bichette went 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in a 3-1 loss Thursday against Kansas City.

Hitting cleanup for the first time since May 27, Bichette walked in the first and eighth innings and added a stolen base. The 24-year-old has reached base safely in 17 of his last 18 contests, compiling a .296/.351/.451 with two homers and two stolen bases in 77 plate appearances. While his .734 OPS this season is below his career .818 mark, much of that has to do with an early-season slump as he's produced an .808 OPS over his last 54 contests.

Crawford was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to a bruised right index finger, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Crawford appeared to be uncomfortable during warmups and was ultimately pulled from the lineup after his finger swelled. After the game, Crawford told reporters that he suffered the injury on a defensive play during Seattle's recent series against the Nationals. He should be considered day-to-day.