MLB Player News

Crawford went 2-for-5 with a run scored Saturday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Crawford's overall numbers continue to look terrible, but he has been a bit better over his last 25 games, slashing .240/.351/.333 in 96 at-bats. The 22-year-old's walk rate is up nearly four percent from his stint at Triple-A last season, and his .233 BABIP is well below his rates from the past two seasons. Things should start to turn around for Crawford at some point, but it is looking like the best-case scenario for a major-league debut this season will be as a September call-up.

Diaz went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 win over the Phillies.

Diaz hadn't gone deep since May 1, a span of 31 games. The Cuban shortstop has hit safely in six of his last seven games and has compiled five extra-base hits (four doubles, one homer) in his first eight contests of June. While the 26-year-old's current .262 average represents a 38-point drop from the .300 figure he mustered in his rookie campaign, Diaz's contact rate has actually seen a one-percent boost to 86 percent.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup for Saturday's contest with the Royals.

This marks the third time in the last four games that d'Arnaud will sit while Erick Aybar takes his spot at shortstop. Neither one has done too much to warrant a look, but following Aybar's 2-for-4 game Friday, manager Andy Green will ride the hot bat.

Story is out of the lineup for Saturday's game with the Cubs, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports.

Story will get a day off for the first time since May 28 with Alexi Amarista taking his place at shortstop. The 24-year-old has not started this year the same way he did in 2016, but he is swinging a better bat as of late, bumping up his season averages to .208/.307/.411 with eight home runs and 22 RBI.

Swanson went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI, one walk and a run scored Friday during the Braves' 3-2 victory over the Mets.

Swanson drove in the Braves' first two runs before scoring the deciding run. It hasn't been the best season for the 23-year-old shortstop, but he has seven hits in his last 12 at-bats with two walks.

Gordon went 3-for-6 with two doubles, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 12-7 win over the Pirates.

He's now swiped a base in three straight games, giving him 21 on the season. Gordon also has six hits and five runs over that stretch, pushing his slash line on the year to .282/.331/.357.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup Friday against the Royals.

D'Arnaud is 0-for-9 over his last three games, so he'll give way to Erick Aybar at shortstop for the second time in three days. Neither of the two have offered much production at the plate, so it appears they'll continue to split duties for the time being.

DeJong is not in the lineup Friday against the Phillies, David Solomon of 550 KTRS reports.

DeJong has been the primary second baseman for St. Louis since his callup in late May, although he'll head to the bench now that regular second baseman Kolten Wong is back from the disabled list. It's unclear how manager Mike Matheny plans to divvy up playing time moving forward, although DeJong's recent skid at the plate could spell a reduction in playing time for him or even a demotion back to the minor leagues.

Owings went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 15-3 win over the Padres.

Prior to this week, Owings had been in the midst of a slump in the power department, supplying only four extra-base hits in a 15-game stretch. He seemed to settle into a groove again during the three-game series, going 4-for-11 with three extra-base knocks, six RBI and four runs. The 25-year-old continues to deliver career-best numbers across the board in what could be an All-Star-worthy campaign.

Baez is batting sixth and playing shortstop Friday, Bruce Miles of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Addison Russell was already sharing time at shortstop with Baez and was not with the Cubs on Thursday due to an upcoming investigation by the league into a domestic violence accusation. Baez is 4-for-15 with one home run and three RBI to start June and will face the Rockies' German Marquez in the matinee clash.