MLB Player News

Dubon went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to Atlanta.

Getting the start in center field and batting seventh, Dubon took Jesse Chavez deep in the sixth inning to give the Astros a 4-2 lead that the bullpen couldn't protect. The 29-year-old utility player has hit safely in four straight games and six of the last seven as he pushes Jake Meyers for playing time in center. On the season Dubon is batting .279 (12-for-43) with one homer, one steal, four runs and 10 RBI.

O'Neill (forehead) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Guardians, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

O'Neill is still on the mend after needing stitches for a forehead laceration that he suffered during a collision with teammate Rafael Devers on Monday. The good news is that he's cleared concussion protocol and he could be back in the lineup as soon as Friday in Pittsburgh. Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu are in the corner outfield spots for the Red Sox on Thursday.

Devers is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Cleveland, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Devers exited Tuesday's 10-7 loss to the Guardians with knee discomfort, but he returned to the lineup for Wednesday's 2-0 win as the Red Sox's designated hitter, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts while playing the full game. Despite the poor showing at the dish, Devers isn't believed to have experienced any renewed discomfort during the game, so his absence from the lineup Thursday looks to be mostly maintenance-related as Boston and Cleveland close their series with a day game after a night game. Devers is expected to be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh, though it's unclear if he'll immediately be able to take back his usual duties at third base.

France came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to Atlanta, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.

While his final numbers were solid, three of the hits off France went for extra bases, including no-doubt solo homers by Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuna. The right-hander tossed 51 of 90 pitches for strikes, and while this was his best performance of the season so far, his spot in the rotation only seems safe because Houston lacks healthy options to replace him. France will take a 7.08 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB through 20.1 innings into his next outing, scheduled to come on the road next week against the Cubs.

Tampa Bay recalled Lopez from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Lopez has been starting at Durham, posting a 7.59 ERA and 9:2 K:BB over 10.2 innings. The Rays need him for relief help, though, as the left-hander will offer them some potential length in the bullpen for Thursday's series finale versus the Angels.

Rogers is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Rogers had started behind the dish in both of the Tigers' last two games, but he'll hit the bench for the series finale while Carson Kelly handles catching duties for Detroit. The two backstops have been deployed in a timeshare this season, with Kelly drawing 10 starts at catcher compared to Rogers' nine.

The Rays optioned Kelly to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Tampa Bay will swap Kelly out of its bullpen for a left-handed option, as Jacob Lopez was called up from Durham in a corresponding move. Kelly has made four appearances for the Rays this season, giving up four earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four over 4.2 innings.

Meadows is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rangers, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

The Rangers are starting right-hander Jack Leiter, but the left-handed-hitting Meadows will nonetheless begin the series finale on the bench. Meadows has gone just 3-for-39 to begin the season, although he did pop his first home run Wednesday. Matt Vierling will start in center field Thursday.

Miller (3-1) earned the win over the Reds on Wednesday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over six innings while striking out seven.

Miller was dominant Wednesday, doing much of the work with his four-seamer as he held the Reds to just one hit over six frames. The only run he allowed was a solo homer off the bat of Elly De La Cruz, the first home run he's given up over his last three starts. Miller has dazzled on the mound since taking the loss in his first start of the season and now holds a 0.47 ERA in April to go along with an 18:5 K:BB. Furthermore, the right-hander has now gone at least six innings in three consecutive starts, allowing no more than three hits in each of those outings.

Smith entered Wednesday's game as a pinch hitter in the top of the ninth inning and went 1-for-1 with a double and an RBI in a 5-4 win over Detroit.

Smith, who was held out of the starting lineup against a left-hander, got the call to pinch hit with runners on against righty Shelby Miller and delivered the game-deciding run. It's not surprising that Smith came through, as he's gone 7-for-13 with 10 RBI with runners in scoring position in 2024. He's performed better than expected in a fill-in role while Josh Jung (thumb) is unavailable, slashing .319/.418/.404 over 55 plate appearances. Seasoned fantasy managers should be aware Smith's .366 BABIP indicates a correction is coming. Over two previous MLB seasons, he slashed .191/.306/.287.