MLB Player News

Smith (shoulder) reported to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday to begin a rehab assignment.

The 24-year-old has been on the injured list with a sprained shoulder since June 4, but he's now entering the final stage of his rehab program. Smith should only require a few games in the minors given the brevity of his absence.

Castillo isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Castillo went 1-for-19 with a homer, two runs, two walks and six strikeouts over the last seven games, and he'll get a breather during Wednesday's series finale against St. Louis. Hoy Park is starting at shortstop and batting ninth.

The Giants announced Wednesday that Luciano has been diagnosed with a lower-back strain and will be shut down from baseball activities for at least a couple of weeks before resuming workouts, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

High-A Eugene placed Luciano on its 7-day injured list Friday with an injury that was termed as "lower-back tightness," but follow-up tests evidently revealed that the elite prospect strained a muscle. He'll head to the Giants' spring training facility in Arizona to conduct his rehab, and he doesn't look as though he'll be ready to rejoin the High-A lineup until at least July. The 20-year-old infielder was slashing .288/.360/.507 with eight home runs in 164 plate appearances for Eugene before sustaining the injury.

Crawford (illness) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

Since the Mariners are closing their series with a day game after a night game, Crawford will unsurprisingly remain on the bench and get more time to recuperate from the illness that resulted in him being scratched ahead of Tuesday's 4-2 win. Manager Scott Servais has described Crawford's illness as flu-like symptoms, so the 27-year-old doesn't appear to be a candidate to land on the COVID-19-related injured list at this time.

Diaz will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

He'll pick up his second start in a row and looks primed to serve as the Astros' everyday shortstop after star rookie Jeremy Pena (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Over 119 plate appearances on the season, Diaz has hit .214 with three home runs and no stolen bases, so his fantasy upside isn't especially high even while he remains part of a potent Houston lineup.

The Astros placed Pena on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with left thumb discomfort.

Though general manager James Click said in a radio appearance earlier Wednesday that Pena's thumb injury wasn't severe, the American League Rookie of the Year candidate will remain sidelined through at least next weekend while he heals up. Manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that the 24-year-old underwent an MRI that didn't reveal any significant damage, but the shortstop won't swing a bat for at least a week, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. Aledmys Diaz started at shortstop in Tuesday's 4-3 win and will likely serve as the primary option at the position while Pena is on the shelf.

Astros general manager James Click said Wednesday that the "initial read" on Pena's left thumb injury is that the rookie isn't dealing with anything severe, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Click noted that Pena flew back to Houston on Tuesday to undergo additional tests on his thumb, and the Astros plan to evaluate him again Wednesday. With that in mind, Pena doesn't look like he'll be back in Arlington on Wednesday for the Astros' series finale with the Rangers. Aledmys Diaz replaced Pena at shortstop Tuesday in Houston's 4-3 win.

Baez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.

Harold Castro gets the nod at shortstop while Baez sits for the first time since June 2 as the Tigers and White Sox wrap up their series with a day game after a night game. Fantasy managers hoping that Baez's three-walk performance in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays might have been a sign of a breakthrough for the 29-year-old have been disappointed. He's gone 0-for-11 with no walks and three strikeouts over the Tigers' subsequent three contests.

Manager Scott Servais said after Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Twins that Crawford is unlikely to start in Wednesday's series finale while he recovers from flu-like symptoms, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Crawford was a late scratch ahead of Tuesday's contest, but an explanation for his absence wasn't provided until Servais addressed the media after Seattle's win. Due to the quick turnaround for Wednesday's game -- which begins at 1:10 p.m. local time -- the Mariners likely won't rush Crawford back into the lineup while he's less than 100 percent. He could still be available in a pinch-hitting capacity if he doesn't start.

Duran went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in a 4-3 loss to the Astros on Tuesday.

Duran singled to lead off the third inning and came around to score on an RBI single by Marcus Semien. The former would later go on to steal third base off Bryan Abreu after advancing to second on a wild pitch in the seventh. The rookie infielder has only played in 10 games since being called up from the minors June 4, but he already has a couple of home runs and steals. If Duran continues to reach base at anywhere near his current .341 clip, he should continue to find opportunities to run.