MLB Player News

Pena (knee) isn't expected to require a trip to the injured list, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Pena left Thursday's game against the Twins with right knee discomfort and didn't play Friday against the Nationals. The Astros' Saturday lineup has yet to be released, but it looks as though Pena won't be out too much longer even if he's not quite ready to return.

Mateo isn't starting Saturday against Detroit, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Mateo is in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak in which he's hit .286 with two homers, a triple, two doubles, six runs, three RBI and three steals. However, he'll get a breather while Chris Owings starts at shortstop and bats ninth.

Velazquez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-0 win over Oakland.

Offense was at a minimum for both teams in the contest, so Velazquez's fifth-inning solo shot provided some breathing room for the Angels' pitching staff in the combined shutout. The long ball was just the second of Velazquez's big-league career and first of the 2022 campaign. The infielder is known much more for his speed, having notched as many as 50 thefts in a minor-league season but never surpassing 14 homers.

Mateo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Tigers.

The 26-year-old utility player extended his current hitting streak to nine games while swiping his league-leading 10th base of the year, which already matches the career high in steals he set last season. Mateo's .243/.282/.378 slash line isn't particularly exciting, but as long as he keeps running, he'll have fantasy value in most formats.

Bogaerts went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Rangers.

Bogaerts gave the Red Sox a pair of insurance runs with his two-run single in the seventh inning. The veteran shortstop is 7-for-17 over his last four games, boosting his season slash line to .347/.397/.463 through 131 plate appearances. However, he hasn't collected an extra-base hit in his last seven games.

Smith will sit Friday against the Angels.

Smith sits after starting 10 straight games, a stretch in which he hit just .176/.200/.382. Sheldon Neuse will start at third base Friday.

Diaz (undisclosed) is starting Friday against the Nationals.

The 31-year-old missed time recently due to an unspecified injury, but he entered Thursday's matchup against the Twins after Jeremy Pena (knee) was removed from the game. Diaz went 0-for-2 with a strikeout against Minnesota, but he'll start at shortstop and bat seventh in his return to the lineup Friday.

Pena (knee) isn't starting Friday against the Nationals.

Pena was removed from Thursday's game against the Twins due to right knee discomfort, and he was expected to be out of the lineup for Friday's series opener in Washington. It's not yet clear whether the 24-year-old will require a stint on the injured list, but Aledmys Diaz will start at shortstop and bat seventh Friday.

Chang (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Chang has been on the injured list since April 15, and he'll rejoin the active roster after an eight-game rehab assignment in the minors, during which he went 4-for-23. The 26-year-old could have an expanded role since Josh Naylor (undisclosed) landed on the COVID-19 IL in a corresponding move.

Mateo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals.

Mateo opened the scoring with a second-inning blast. That was the Orioles' lone run until Anthony Bemboom went yard in the seventh. Mateo isn't one to hit for much power, but he's swatted both of his homers this season in his last seven games. The versatile 26-year-old is up to a .243/.277/.383 slash line with eight RBI, 12 runs scored and nine stolen bases through 113 plate appearances.