MLB Player News

Abrams went 1-for-3 with two walks, a run and a stolen base in Thursday's loss to the Mets.

Abrams was one of just two Nationals hitters to reach base multiple times in the loss, and he scored the team's only run following a walk and a stolen base in the sixth inning. Though the shortstop has begun to tail off just a bit by going 4-for-19 over his past five games, that won't prevent July from being arguably the best month of his career thus far. Through 21 July games, Abrams is slashing .337/.398/.542 with three homers, four doubles, two triples, eight RBI, 21 runs, and 12 thefts on 12 attempts.

Smith (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.

Smith will likely need a number of rehab games before being activated. When he's ready, he should return to the top spot on the shortstop depth chart in Oakland.

Edman (wrist) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Edman resumed taking live at-bats earlier this week and his sore right wrist has apparently responded well. Out since July 7, the 28-year-old super-utilityman should be back on the Cardinals' active roster by the middle of next week if all goes smoothly on the farm.

Neto (back) is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Tigers.

Neto sat out the first contest of the double dip, which was his third straight game missed with a back problem. The rookie shortstop is doing much better, though, and will serve as a table setter as the Angels go for a doubleheader sweep.

Single-A Visalia reinstated Pintar (ankle) from its 60-day injured list Saturday and assigned him to High-A Hillsboro.

Pintar has gone 2-for-13 with a run scored in his three games with Hillsboro since joining the squad last weekend. He opened the season with Visalia before landing on the shelf in late April with the ankle injury.

DeJong is not in the lineup Thursday against the Cubs.

Taylor Motter will start at shortstop in DeJong's stead and will bat ninth. A potential trade chip for the Cardinals with the Aug. 1 deadline fast approaching, DeJong holds a .728 OPS with 13 home runs in 77 games this season.

DeJong isn't in the Cardinals' lineup Thursday against the Cubs, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

After going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored Wednesday, DeJong will get a breather to begin St. Louis' four-game series against Chicago. Taylor Motter will start at shortstop in DeJong's place and bat ninth.

Smith (back) is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas either Thursday or Friday, the team's official site reports.

It's been a productive second half of July for Smith in his recovery from a back strain, as he began a swing progression July 15 and subsequently moved to running the bases at full speed. That ramp-up in activity has teed up his imminent return to game action, and Smith is likely to spend at least a week with the Aviators before activation is considered.

Neto (back) remains out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers.

It will be the third straight game Neto has missed due to a back issue, but Angels manager Phil Nevin expects the rookie to be ready to go for the second game, per MLB.com. Andrew Velazquez is getting the start at shortstop for the first game.

Bichette went 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 8-1 win over the Dodgers.

The shortstop has seven hits in the last two games, boosting his slash line since the All-Star break up to .306/.358/.449. Bichette's 137 hits on the season leads the American League, with only Luis Arraez's 141 in Miami sitting ahead of him, but that's no surprise -- the 25-year-old also led the AL in hits in 2021 and 2022.