MLB Player News

Pena (calf) did some light running at Daikin Park on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to a left calf strain that had been lingering. The Astros are optimistic that the shortstop can return when his 10 days are up, and his ability to do some light running already bodes well for potentially reaching that goal. Raynel Delgado is filling in at shortstop for the Astros on Wednesday versus the Twins after Nick Allen manned the position the previous two days.

The Rangers placed Seager on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to lower-back inflammation.

Seager returned from the 7-day injured list last week after recovering from a concussion, but a back issue that will send him to the IL this time. The shortstop missed a month of action with a back injury earlier this season, but it's unclear at this point how long his upcoming stint on the shelf might last. Ezequiel Duran will likely serve as the Rangers' primary shortstop while Seager is sidelined.

Cheng is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals.

Cheng started at shortstop in each of the last five games following his call-up from Triple-A Worcester last Friday, going 2-for-15 with a double, a walk and a run. He'll cede shortstop to Andruw Monasterio while southpaw Andrew Alvarez works as a primary pitcher for Washington, but the left-handed-hitting Cheng could continue to handle a strong-side platoon role at the position while all of Trevor Story (sports hernia), Marcelo Mayer (forearm) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (forearm) are on the shelf.

Seager (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

The Rangers will give Seager at least one maintenance day after he experienced back discomfort and was lifted from Tuesday's 4-2 win before his first turn in the batting order came up. Texas will go with Nicky Lopez at shortstop in place of Seager, who is being viewed as day-to-day heading into the team's three-game series with the Tigers, which begins Thursday.

Montgomery is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Baltimore.

It appears to be a routine day off after Montgomery started each of the previous 17 contests. Luisangel Acuna will cover shortstop for the White Sox in Wednesday's matinee.

The Athletics signed Winkler to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Winkler had been at Triple-A Sugar Land in the Astros organization but was released after slashing just .184/.260/.306 over 56 contests. The 27-year-old got a dose of major-league experience with the Marlins in 2025 and will give the Athletics utility depth at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Montgomery went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Orioles.

The 24-year-old shortstop crushed a Trey Gibson slider in the third inning, launching it 440 feet to right field and leaving Camden Yards completely. It was Montgomery's fourth homer in the last nine games, but he has just seven total hits during that stretch and a 2:15 BB:K. On the season, he sports a .221/.311/.482 slash line with 21 long balls, 40 runs, 49 RBI and a 32.0 percent strikeout rate in 81 contests.

Witt went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Tuesday's 10-4 loss to the Rays.

Witt did everything he could to keep Kansas City in the game, launching a two-run homer off Griffin Jax in the third inning before adding a solo shot in the eighth to trim Tampa Bay's sizable lead. Since returning to the lineup from an MCL sprain, the star shortstop is batting .286 (4-for-14) across four games.

Emerson went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and two RBI in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Angels.

Emerson logged his first multi-hit effort since June 2 versus the Mets. The infield prospect has gotten steady playing time in June, but he hit just .205 (16-for-78) during the month. He's now batting .218 with a .749 OPS, seven home runs, two steals, 19 RBI, 15 runs scored, five doubles and a triple through 37 contests. Emerson has a 32.6 percent strikeout rate, so he'll likely continue to struggle with hitting for average until he cuts down on the swing-and-miss issues.

Seager was removed from Tuesday's game against the Guardians with back discomfort, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Seager wasn't able to shake off a back issue that popped up before Tuesday's contest, causing him to be removed from the game before taking an at-bat. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but the Rangers could provide more information on his status in the near future. In the meantime, the Rangers will use Cameron Cauley as Seager's replacement in the infield.