MLB Player News

Smith (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Smith is slated to play back-to-back full games before being evaluated for a potential return. The utility player landed on the 10-day injured list last week with left hamstring inflammation, but he avoided a strain and is tracking toward a minimum stay on the IL.

Lorenzen signed a major-league contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The Rockies cut ties with Lorenzen last week after he turned in a 7.08 ERA and 1.88 WHIP across 115.2 innings, but he'll now receive an opportunity to pitch for Toronto. The Blue Jays have an open spot in their rotation after placing Shane Bieber (shoulder) on the injured list Tuesday, but manager John Schneider said that Lorenzen will begin his tenure with the club working out of the bullpen, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca.

Schmidt (elbow) is expected to begin a rehab assignment Saturday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

It's unclear which affiliate Schmidt will be assigned to, but it will be his first time pitching in a game since he underwent an internal brace procedure last July. The expectation is that Schmidt will not have enough time to be built back up as a starting pitcher, but he could help the Yankees in a relief role in September.

Loftin is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Toronto.

Loftin had made eight consecutive starts, but he will retreat to the bench for Thursday's series finale. Josh Rojas will occupy the hot corner for the Royals in the rubber match.

The Royals optioned Black to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Black pitched two scoreless innings during Wednesday's contest, marking the first time since June 7 that he didn't give up a run during an appearance in the big leagues. Now carrying a 4.31 ERA and 1.60 WHIP on the season, he'll move back down to Triple-A so the Royals can bring in a fresh arm in the form of Anthony Gose.

The Royals selected Gose's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Gose has spent the entire season at Triple-A, where he owns a 4.94 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 59:31 K:BB across 47.1 innings. Although his performance has been unremarkable, the 36-year-old will now return to the big leagues for the first time since 2024 to give Kansas City's bullpen a fresh arm, replacing Mason Black.

The Royals recalled Rojas from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Rojas has posted just a .556 OPS across 80 plate appearances in the majors this season, but he'll get the call to rejoin the big club to make up for the loss of Michael Massey (concussion). Rojas will likely serve primarily as bench depth while Tyler Tolbert receives the majority of starts at second base going forward.

Bateman is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

Bateman started the last five contests and reached base 10 times over that span, but he will begin Thursday's festivities on the bench. Daz Cameron, Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes will patrol the outfield in Thursday's rubber match.

The Royals placed Massey on the 7-day concussion injured list Thursday.

Massey sat out Wednesday's game after he fell and hit his head while making a throw to first base during Tuesday's contest, and he'll officially remain out of action for at least a week after being diagnosed with a concussion. Tyler Tolbert figures to take over as Kansas City's primary second baseman while Massey is sidelined, and Josh Rojas will come up from Triple-A to replenish the team's infield depth.

Gimenez is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Royals.

The left-handed-hitting Gimenez will get a breather as the Royals send southpaw Noah Cameron to the hill. Ernie Clement will slide over to shortstop, and Charles McAdoo will grab a start at second base.