MLB Player News

Levine mentioned that White Sox manager Will Venable said Smith is “one of the team’s options” for Saturday against the Dodgers. It would certainly be a tough first test for Smith, who was the fifth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. The left-hander has back-to-back Triple-A outings with nine strikeouts and just threw 92 pitches in his last outing, which was his most ever in a professional game. His strikeout upside is immense, with 72 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings at Triple-A this season, but he also has 33 walks and posted a 17.6 percent walk rate last year as well. That has made it hard for him to pitch deep into games and could limit his fantasy ceiling in redraft formats.

Jansen has been out since June 6 with a strained right forearm. With Kyle Higashioka also on the IL, Jansen will probably serve as the Rangers’ starting catcher once he comes off the IL.

Pasquantino hit .282 in 11 games last month after returning from a broken hamate, though that came with just one extra-base hit. It looks like he’ll be back to give it another try next weekend.

Lee had a 12-game hitting streak while playing pretty regularly in the second half of last month, but he’s taken a backseat since Javier Báez came off the IL. The Tigers seem pretty happy with Báez at short and Kevin McGonigle at third right now.

Myles Straw replaced him, with Jesús Sánchez switching from left field to DH. Springer is likely day-to-day.

After nearly three months off, Holmes will make his return and his Cubs debut in a start tonight against the Royals.

Garrett, recalled Thursday after being acquired from the Marlins on Monday, didn’t pitch in his two days with the Cubs.

Castaño had been on the IL since June 21 with a pectoral strain. After two scoreless innings to begin his rehab assignment, he gave up four runs for Albuquerque last night, which probably ruined his chances of getting re-inserted into the Rockies pen.

This is against a right-hander, too. Yelich, though, is 3-for-28 with an 8/0 K/BB this month, dropping him down to .232/.316/.371 for the season. It hasn’t cost him any playing time yet, but one wonders if it might once Sal Frelick comes off the injured list.

Guerrero is back at first base and hitting third following a three-game absence due to hamstring tightness. He’s been battling the issue since last week. The 27-year-old former fantasy star continues to endure one of the more bizarre seasons in recent memory from an established upper-echelon power hitter, mustering just six homers in 108 games on the year.

Leiter told reporters afterwards that he feels ready for a rehab assignment. The 26-year-old has been on the shelf working his way back from surgery to remove loose bodies from his right ankle in late June. There’s a decent chance he’s back in the Rangers’ rotation by late August.