MLB Player News

Velazquez was optioned to the Orioles' alternate training site Saturday.

Velazquez had been on the major-league roster for the entire season until Saturday, but he had an inconsistent role as he slashed .159/.274/.206 with three RBI and four stolen bases over 53 at-bats. Right-hander Evan Phillips was recalled to fill a bullpen role for the Orioles.

Ahmed will hit the bench Saturday against Houston, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Ahmed will sit for just the third time all year. Josh Rojas will start at shortstop in his absence.

Diaz (quadriceps) is starting Saturday against the Diamondbacks, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diaz didn't appear in any of the Astros' last five games after tweaking his quad last Saturday, but he'll return to action a week after suffering the injury. He should resume his role as one of the team's top reserve options in the infield over the remainder of the regular season.

Crawford will hit the bench against lefty Jesus Luzardo and the Athletics on Saturday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Crawford has sat frequently against lefties this season, though he'd been in the lineup against the last two the Giants faced. Daniel Robertson takes over at shortstop on this occasion.

Bogaerts went 2-for-5 with a walk, a run and a stolen base in a 6-5 loss to the Yankees on Friday.

Bogaerts was able to reach base three times Friday while also staying active on the basepaths with his second steal of the season. The 27-year-old is hitting .287/.347/.497 with 10 home runs, 26 RBI and 30 runs scored across 199 plate appearances.

Mondesi went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, two runs scored and a walk in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Brewers.

Mondesi drew a walk and scored on Salvador Perez's first-inning double. In the third, Mondesi reached on a single and advanced to second on Ryan Braun's error before coming around to score on a Perez single. Mondesi added his 18th stolen base of the year by swiping third in the seventh inning after hitting a leadoff double. The speedy shortstop is slashing .216/.253/.330 with four homers, 14 RBI and 23 runs scored in 50 games this year, but he's been more productive since the start of September.

Arcia went 2-for-3 with a homer, four RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 9-5 win over the Royals.

Arcia drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning to force in the Brewers' second run of the contest. He also scored the go-ahead run on Jacob Nottingham's grand slam two at-bats later. Arcia went deep himself for a three-run blast in the fifth. The shortstop has four homers, 16 RBI, 18 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases while slashing .250/.318/.386 in 49 games this year.

Berti (finger) got through a simulated game Thursday without issues, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Berti has been out for the minimum 10 days with a bruised finger, but it doesn't sound as though he'll miss all that much more time. He hit .250/.354/.354 with eight steals in 30 games prior to the injury.

Anderson is out of the lineup Friday against the Reds.

The White Sox clinched their first playoff birth since 2008 with Thursday's win over the Twins, and Anderson will receive his first day off since returning from the groin injury Aug. 11. Nick Madrigal will move up to the leadoff spot while Yolmer Sanchez starts at shortstop.

Fletcher went 3-for-5 with a double and a run in Thursday's win over Arizona.

It hasn't taken long for Fletcher to get back into a rhythm after a stint on the injured list sidelined him for the first part of September. The 26-year-old went 1-for-10 in his first two games back but has notched a pair of three-hit games in his subsequent three starts. That has pushed his average up to .314, seventh best in the American League.