MLB Player News

Goldschmidt is absent from the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Pirates.

Ben Rice will handle first base, and Spencer Jones will grab a start at designated hitter. Goldschmidt will likely be back in the lineup for the second game of the twin bill.

Smith struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 29th save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Twins.

The 27-year-old closer fanned Kody Clemens as he extended his MLB saves lead, with the Padres' Mason Miller, the Rays' Bryan Baker and the Cardinals' Riley O'Brien tied for second with 25. Smith has allowed an earned run in only one of his last 10 appearances, and on the season he's produced a 2.72 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 66:11 K:BB over 46.1 innings.

Messick didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Twins, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The southpaw was lifted after 88 pitches (59 strikes) with one on in the sixth inning and the game tied 2-2, missing out on both his eighth quality start of the season and his ninth win when Cleveland scored twice in the bottom of the frame. Messick has given up just one earned run in three straight outings, and on the campaign he sports a 2.68 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 116:36 K:BB through 117.2 innings in his first full season as part of the big-league rotation. He lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Tampa Bay.

Jeffers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Guardians.

The backstop took Parker Messick deep in the top of the first inning for his ninth long ball of the season, but it was the only lead the Twins would hold in the game. Jeffers missed nearly two months after undergoing surgery on a fractured hamate bone in May, but he hasn't shown much rust since returning just before the All-Star break, going 5-for-21 (.238) in six games with two doubles and two homers.

Paredes (0-3) took the loss Tuesday, giving up two runs on six hits and a walk over three innings of relief as the Twins fell 5-2 to the Guardians. He didn't strike out a batter.

Kendry Rojas got the start but worked just 2.1 innings before handing the ball to Paredes in a tandem arrangement, with neither pitcher being particularly effective. Since joining the big-league roster in late May, Paredes has managed a 4.72 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 19:13 K:BB through 34.1 innings over nine appearances (five starts). Connor Prielipp (finger) is closing in on a return from the IL to fill the fifth starter spot, but depending on how Minnesota navigates the trade deadline, there could be other openings in the rotation in August. Paredes hasn't done much to stake a claim for any vacancies, however.

Miles is expected to be used in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Braydon Fisher in Wednesday's game against the Rays, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

While serving as a traditional starter the last time his turn in the rotation came up Friday, Miles was lit up for six earned runs on six hits over four innings in a loss to the White Sox. The Blue Jays will hope to coax better results from Miles by deploying him behind Fisher, who will likely cover the first inning or two of Wednesday's contest.

Narvaez is not in the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.

It marks the third straight game that Narvaez has been on the bench in favor of Connor Wong. Narvaez should be back behind the dish for the nightcap.

Seigler is out of the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles.

Seigler will likely be back in the starting nine for the nightcap, but he'll begin the first game of the twin bill on the bench. Romy Gonzalez will play second base in the matinee, and Masataka Yoshida has been elevated to the leadoff spot typically occupied by Seigler.

Kwan went 1-for-3 with two walks, a double, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Twins.

Kwan continued a surge that began last month and has hit safely in 19 of his last 23 games. He's slashed .352/.439/.465 during that stretch and was moved back to leadoff this week. Kwan told Tim Stebbins of MLB.com that he recently altered his swing decisions. Instead of stubbornly waiting for pitches middle-in, he made a decision to take what pitchers were giving him and take pitches on the outer half the other way.

The Rangers sent Martin (shoulder) to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.

Martin landed on the 15-day injured list just before the All-Star break with a right shoulder impingement. He is eligible for activation Monday and should be ready to go on that date after a rehab appearance or two.