MLB Player News

Cruz (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Cruz will remain on the bench for a third straight game while he continues to experience discomfort stemming from a cut to his left hand, which he sustained during a hard slide in Atlanta over the weekend. Jake Mangum will pick up a start in center field in place of Cruz, who is being viewed as day-to-day while he continues to receive treatment for the injury.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Smith (neck) will "most likely" be placed on the injured list, Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times reports. "We'll have to make that decision at some point in time [after Wednesday's game against the Pirates]," Roberts said.

Roberts acknowledged that the three-time All-Star is progressing, but Smith -- who will be out of the lineup Wednesday for a fourth straight game -- has missed enough time at this point that he'll require a ramp-up period before returning to action, per Jack Harris of the California Post. Dalton Rushing will step in as the Dodgers' top backstop for the duration of Smith's absence, and Los Angeles will likely call up Chuckie Robinson or Eliezer Alfonzo from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Thursday's series finale in Pittsburgh to serve as Rushing's understudy.

Cleavinger gave up one run on one hit and one walk in the ninth inning Wednesday to record his second save of the season in a 7-5 win over the Red Sox. He struck out one.

A solo shot by Caleb Durbin accounted for the damage off Cleavinger, who got the call in a save situation with Bryan Baker having pitched the prior two days. The long ball was only the second Cleavinger has served up this season, and through 15.1 innings he's produced a 4.70 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB in 15.1 innings while recording one win and eight holds over 17 appearances, in addition to his two saves.

Rasmussen (6-2) picked up the win Wednesday, scattering two hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings during a 7-5 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out 13.

The right-hander set a career high in strikeouts while recording 20 whiffs among his 97 pitches (66 total strikes). Rasmussen has held the opposition off the board in three of his last four trips to the mound, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 32:4 K:BB in 25 innings over that sizzling stretch. He faces a tough test in his next start, which is set to come on the road early next week against the Dodgers.

The Royals recalled Misner from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

He'll join the big club as a replacement for Kyle Isbel (foot), who was placed on the injured list. Misner has spent the whole season up to this point at Omaha, slashing .276/.373/.547 with 13 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 59 games. He could see some playing time in center field while Isbel is shelved.

Durbin went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Rays.

After Drew Rasmussen had blanked Boston for seven innings, Durbin sparked his team's offense to life with a long ball off Cole Sulser to lead off the eighth, following it up with another solo shot off Garrett Cleavinger in the ninth. Durbin came into the game with just one homer on the year, but over the last 12 games he's batting .341 (15-for-44) with five doubles, a triple and Wednesday's pair of home runs, along with one steal, six runs and nine RBI.

The Royals placed Isbel on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

Isbel was lifted from Tuesday's game versus the Rangers due to the injury, though it's unclear whether it occurred then or is an issue that's nagged at him. It's unclear how much time Isbel might miss. Lane Thomas will likely see the bulk of the reps in center field for Kansas City while Isbel is sidelined, though Kameron Misner was recalled from Triple-A Omaha and could also be in the mix for playing time.

Pereda is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

After making three consecutive starts at catcher, Pereda now finds himself on the bench for the second straight day while the Mariners go with Mitch Garver behind the plate. Pereda has produced a .750 OPS over 14 games since being called up from Triple-A Tacoma on May 14, but his run as Seattle's preferred option at catcher will soon come to an end with Cal Raleigh (oblique) in the midst of a rehab assignment and likely to be activated from the injured list at the beginning of next week.

Bennett (1-2) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over five innings as the Red Sox fell 7-5 to the Rays. He struck out four.

Facing Tampa Bay for the second time in his first three big-league starts, Bennett lost to Boston's AL East rival once again. The southpaw tossed 52 of 73 pitches for strikes, getting tagged for one run in the third inning and three more in the fifth before leaving the mound. He could stick around in the majors a little longer this time with Brayan Bello bumped down to Triple-A, but Bennett's 5.28 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB in 15.1 MLB innings isn't encouraging. The 25-year-old lines up to make his next start at home next week against the Blue Jays.

Burger is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Kansas City.

It's a routine day off for Burger, who had started each of the previous 13 tilts. Ezequiel Duran will be deployed at first base by the Rangers, and Nicky Lopez will cover second base.