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It’ll be the third straight game that Smith has missed due to a lingering thumb injury. The encouraging news is that he hasn’t been placed on the injured list, so it sounds like the Rangers think he’s getting closer to a return. Dustin Harris will start in left field once more and will bat fifth against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers on Friday evening in Arlington.

It’s the first time that Meadows has been cleared to throw since being shut down during the spring with right upper-arm nerve inflammation. He has also been doing defensive drills, completing conditioning and doing a daily hitting progression. Since he’s stationed on the 60-day injured list he won’t be eligible to return to action until the end of May, but this at least sounds like an encouraging step in the right direction for the 25-year-old outfielder.

Hanifee was just optioned to Toledo on Tuesday, but because Beau Brieske (ankle) was placed on the injured list, the Tigers can recall him before the usual mandate of 15 days in the minors. He’ll work in the middle innings with Brieske out.

Brieske is a key cog in the Tigers’ bullpen, but they’ll be without him for the rest of April. The good news is this is not an arm injury, so there’s a good chance he’ll be back in May if there are no setbacks.

Moore has been scorching hot with the bat, but the Mariners seem committed to limiting his action against right-handed pitching. He’ll take a seat with Bowden Francis on the mound for the Jays, and Miles Mastrobuoni will get the nod at second base.

Hayes will get a day of rest — at least to begin Friday’s contest — as he’s picked up just three hits over his last seven games. He’ll get a breather while Jared Triolo plays third base and hits seventh.