MLB Player News

Crawford (knee) is back in the lineup Friday at Arizona.

Crawford will start at shortstop and bat leadoff for the visiting Mariners after missing Wednesday's series finale in Minnesota due to a right knee contusion. It was never a serious concern.

Neto was scratched from the lineup Friday versus the Blue Jays due to renewed back stiffness, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Andrew Velazquez will play shortstop and bat ninth for the Angels as Neto continues to struggle through a back issue that first popped up last weekend. He is considered day-to-day.

Leonard was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Friday.

Leonard is a 40-man roster casualty following the Dodgers' acquisition of both Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly from the White Sox. Justin Bruihl also got the boot. Leonard, a 22-year-old infielder, had slashed .254/.327/.411 with 11 homers and three steals through 92 games this season at Double-A Tulsa.

Smith (back) started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Sugar Land on Thursday.

Smith enjoyed a solid start to his rehab assignment. The infielder will work up to playing defense in subsequent games as he completes his recovery from a mid-June back strain.

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.