MLB Player News

Franco is available off the bench Saturday and should see normal usage over the rest of the season, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports.

He only got into one rehab game on his way back from a hamstring injury, so the Rays wanted to give him a breather Saturday. Manager Kevin Cash said Franco will start Sunday, and with an off day Monday, he shouldn't need any scheduled days off next week.

Franco is not in Saturday's lineup against the Marlins, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

He returned from the injured list Friday after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury. Joey Wendle will start at shortstop and bat fifth.

DeJong went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored during Friday's 12-4 win over the Cubs in the second game of the doubleheader.

DeJong was one of four Cardinals' players to hit a home run in the second game of Friday's twin bill after he took Michael Rucker deep to right in the third. The 27-year-old is slashing a lowly .185/.241/.444 with two homers, two RBI, three runs scored, a steal and 2:9 BB:K over 12 games this month as he's taken a backseat to Edmundo Sosa for the team's starting shortstop position. Sosa was banged up Friday after getting hit in the wrist by a pitch, which could afford DeJong some added playing time if Sosa is forced out with the injury.

Adames went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-1 win over the Mets.

Adames went back-to-back with Christian Yelich in the third inning for his only hit of the night. It was his first home run since returning from the injured list Sept. 20 and his 23rd of the year. Milwaukee got a bargain with the 25-year-old shortstop when it traded for him in May, as he's slashing .290/.369/.524 with 23 home runs, 69 RBI, 69 runs scored, five steals and 53:148 BB:K over 524 plate appearances.

Swanson went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and two strikeouts in a 4-0 win over the Padres on Friday.

Swanson took San Diego starter Reiss Knehr deep to right in the second inning to give Atlanta an early 3-0 lead that proved to be all the support Max Fried needed. The homer was the 27-year-old's first since Sept. 1, as he's been slumping lately with a 3-for-25 mark over his last seven games.

Crawford went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored Friday in a 7-2 win over the Rockies.

Crawford continued his career-best campaign at the plate, establishing a new high with 22 homers and tying his career-high mark with 84 RBI. The shortstop also pushed his average to .303 with the trio of hits -- coming into 2021, he had never hit higher than .275 over a season. Crawford has come on strong down the stretch, notching four multi-hit performances over his past seven games.

Edman went 3-for-4 with an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in an 8-5 win over the Cubs in the first game of Friday's doubleheader.

The 26-year-old was productive in the matinee. He notched his 28th steal in 33 attempts while adding his fifth multi-hit effort in 10 games. Edman has a less enjoyable nightcap, going 0-for-5 in that contest. Overall, the second baseman has a .265/.311/.390 slash line with 10 home runs, 54 RBI, 88 runs scored and 41 doubles through 663 plate appearances as St. Louis' main leadoff hitter.

Camargo was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to serve as the 29th man in Friday's nightcap against the Padres.

Camargo has been in the minors since mid-July, but he'll rejoin the major-league roster to serve as depth in the second game of Friday's twin bill. He's appeared in just 15 big-league games this year and has gone 0-for-16 with a run, two walks and six strikeouts.

Franco went 1-for-4 with a double and a walk in Friday's 8-0 victory over Miami.

Making his first appearance since Sep. 10, Franco extended his on-base streak to 40 games after a sixth-inning walk. He then knocked a double in the eighth. The star rookie is hitting .323 during his on-base streak and now owns an .812 OPS on the year.

Smith was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.

Smith was recalled by Toronto on Wednesday, but he didn't record any plate appearances during his time on the major-league roster. He'll head back to Buffalo after Santiago Espinal (hip) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday.