MLB Player News

Jung (knee) will start at third base and bat fourth Thursday against the Angels.

Knee discomfort has kept Jung out of the starting nine for Texas' last three games, but the issue appears to have subsided ahead of Thursday's series finale. The 28-year-old will aim to finish the first half strong after going 10-for-28 (.357) with a homer, three RBI and four runs scored in his last seven games before getting hurt.

The Rangers optioned Smith to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Smith went 6-for-21 with a home run and a triple in six games since returning from an earlier stint in the minors, but it wasn't enough to keep him from getting sent back down. The transaction clears a spot on the active roster for the return of Wyatt Langford from the injured list.

The Rangers activated Langford (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Langford is skipping a rehab assignment and will go directly back onto the Rangers' active roster after missing just shy of two weeks due to a strained left hamstring. He will serve as the designated hitter and bat second in Thursday's game against the Angels.

Kurtz (illness) will serve as the designated hitter and bat second during Thursday's game against the Tigers.

Kurtz was pulled from Wednesday's game in the second inning after he came down with an illness, but he's feeling well enough to return to the starting nine for Thursday's series finale. The 23-year-old has fallen into a minor cold spell at the plate recently, going 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts across his last four contests.

Taylor went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a double in Thursday's 7-3 win over Kansas City.

Taylor entered in the third inning after Mark Vientos (hand) was forced out of the game. The outfielder certainly made the most of the opportunity, tying the game 2-2 with a 380-foot shot off Michael Wacha in the fifth inning for his sixth homer of the year. Taylor has swung the bat well in nine games following a month-long stint on the IL, going 7-for-17 (.412) with three homers. Overall, he's slashing .219/.246/.421 with 17 RBI and 14 runs scored across 122 plate appearances this season.

Meyer will not start Sunday's game against the Guardians as the Marlins give him extra rest heading into the All-Star break, Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com reports.

Sunday is Meyer's turn through the rotation, but the Marlins will instead go with a bullpen game that day. Meyer is healthy but has already logged 108 innings -- he's closing in on his professional high of 115 frames -- and the club wants to be careful with his workload. The right-hander was selected to the NL All-Star team but will not pitch in the Midsummer Classic, either. Meyer finishes the first half with a 9-1 record, 2.58 ERA and 116:38 K:BB.

Wacha (5-7) took the loss Thursday against the Mets, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.

Wacha held the Mets to one run through his first four innings, but he'd unravel in the fifth, when New York would score five runs, including three with two outs. Wacha's performances have been up and down of late -- he's gone 1-5 with a 5.33 ERA in his last eight outings (49 innings). The right-hander figures to head into the All-Star break with a 3.77 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 96:34 K:BB across 19 starts (119.1 innings) this season.

Mets interim manager Andy Green said Thursday that Vientos has been diagnosed with a fractured right hand and will be placed on the 10-day injured list, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.

Vientos was struck by a 92-mph sinker thrown by Michael Wacha in the second inning of Thursday's game versus the Royals, and imaging revealed the unfortunate news. Vientos will likely be sidelined until sometime in August, though the Mets have yet to divulge a timeline for the infielder. The 26-year-old has mainly been used in a short-side platoon at first base over the past five weeks.

The Phillies recalled Shugart from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

He's grabbing the roster spot vacated by the injured Tanner Banks (forearm). Shugart has produced a 4.97 ERA and 34:11 K:BB across 29 frames for the Phillies this season. He's been hurt by the long ball, having served up seven homers.

The Phillies placed Banks on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain.

It's unclear when Banks' forearm began bothering him, but he allowed five runs and four home runs over 1.1 innings in his two appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley over the weekend. Chase Shugart is up from the minors to take Banks' spot on the roster and in the bullpen.