MLB Player News

Diamondbacks infielder Cliff Pennington (thumb) began a rehab assignment with the team's Arizona League (rookie) affiliate Saturday. He went 1 for 4 with one walk.

Dodgers infielder Dee Gordon put together a strong performance Friday, as he sparked the offense in an 8-1 win over the Giants.

Gordon went 3 for 5 with two runs scored from the top of the lineup. He added a triple and an RBI, along with a stolen base in the win.

Gordon is hitting the ball well since the All-Star break, raising his season average from .292 to .298 in that span. He is hitting .367 with four multi-hit games in his last seven.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada is in the starting lineup Friday against the Brewers, as expected Friday.

Tejada sat out Thursday's game when he was hit in the head by a pitch. He felt well enough to play Thursday, but manager Terry Collins said he was held out as a precaution.

The Nationals recalled infielder Zach Walters from Triple-A Syracuse Wednesday, and are putting him in the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.

According to the Washington Post, Walters is likely to see a majority of the playing time at second base against right-handed pitchers as part of a platoon with Danny Espinosa. Walters hit 12 of his 15 home runs in Triple-A from the left side of the plate.  

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada is expected to return to the starting lineup Friday, according to ESPN.

Tejada was hit in the head by a pitch during Wednesday's game, and sat out Thursday. The injury is not considered serious, and manager Terry Collins was just trying to be cautious with his shortstop. "We thought we’d give him one more day just as a precaution," Collins said. "He feels great. Said he could play, but we’ll just give him today and get him back in there tomorrow."

Tejada is hitting .235 over 260 at-bats. 

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada was absent from the starting lineup Thursday at Milwaukee after getting hit in the head by a pitch Wednesday. Wilmer Flores started at shortstop for New York in Tejada's absence.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada checked out OK after being hit in the head by a pitch Wednesday, the New York Daily News reports.

Tejada is likely to miss at least one game, but the team probably won't have to make a roster move to bring up another shortstop. He went 0 for 1 before exiting Wednesday's game, giving him a .235/.358/.292 line with two home runs and 22 RBI in 260 at-bats.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada left Wednesday's game at Seattle in the fifth inning after getting hit in the head by a pitch from Taijuan Walker.

Tejada immediately fell to the ground after getting struck in the front of the helmet. He stayed on the ground for a few minutes while being evaluated by trainers before walking off the field under his own power.

It seems unlikely the Diamondbacks will trade shortstop Chris Owings, outfielder A.J. Pollock, catcher Miguel Montero and pitcher Wade Miley by the July 31 trade deadline, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Miley is drawing substantial interest, but general manager Kevin Towers said trading the left-handed starter "doesn't make a whole lot of sense since we're trying to acquire starting pitchers."

Officials with other teams also told Heyman that the Diamondbacks don't seem eager to trade veteran Martin Prado or reliever Brad Ziegler. One general manager interested in trading for Prado believes the Diamondbacks won't deal him because of his leadership and work ethic.

Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings has been shut down for three days after visiting a doctor Friday, MLB.com reports.

"He's been sore, so we shut him down," manager Kirk Gibson said Saturday. "Just trying to get it kind of over the hump."

Owings has been out since June 25 with a left shoulder injury. Owings had been fielding and throwing before the decision was made to give his shoulder a few days to rest.