CF Mallek Smith played center field for both games of the doubleheader on Saturday and was 3-for-8 with a run scored and a stolen base. Smith is 5-for-11 with a home run and four stolen bases since being called up from Triple-A Durham on Friday.

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier will miss at least two months due to a hairline fracture in his right hip, manager Kevin Cash told MLB Network Radio on Friday.Kiermaier was hurt while sliding awkwardly into first base during Tampa Bay's win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday."He's going to be out a while," Cash said. "He's going to go on the DL. He's got a hairline fracture in his hip region. He's going to at minimum be shut down six to eight weeks."Kiermaier was trying to beat out an infield hit when he made the decision to dive."You always see bad things happen when people slide into first base," Kiermaier said after the contest. "I'm just trying to keep the inning alive."Kiermaier signed a six-year, $53 million contract extension in the offseason. He is batting .258 with seven homers this season.Tampa Bay recalled outfielder Mallex Smith from Triple-A Durham. Cash said Smith will be the club's primary center fielder.Smith is 6-for-23 in nine games with the Rays this season. He was batting .311 with three homers in 30 games at Durham.

OF Mallex Smith was recalled from Triple-A Durham. Smith batted .273 to start the season for the Rays, but he hasn't played with the Rays since straining his right hamstring on April 13. He was batting .306 with Durham.

OF Mallex Smith (strained right hamstring) was reinstated from the disabled list Thursday and optioned to Triple-A Durham. In eight games with the Rays, he batted .273/.318/.360.

OF Mallex Smith (right hamstring strain) was also to rehab Wednesday and Thursday. He is at Single-A Port Charlotte, and the team also makes the next call on him after Thursday.

OF Mallex Smith was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a tight left hamstring, an injury suffered Thursday night in New York. Smith said he didn't expect an extended absence, but he was reportedly set to return to the minors when Colby Rasmus is activated next week.

LF Mallex Smith exited Thursday's game with a tight right hamstring after the top of the third inning. Smith reached on an infield single in the top of the second on a close play at first base and was caught between second and third in a rundown. He will be re-evaluated Friday when the Rays arrive in Boston and is considered day-to-day. "I don't think this will keep me sidelined for too long," Smith said. "I just got to see how it feels tomorrow. That would tell me a lot more."

OF Mallex Smith reached base all five times and stole two bases, leading off the 11th with a double and scoring the winning run. Smith's speed can be a difference-maker, and continued success could put him in a leadoff role soon.

OF Mallex Smith started in his Rays debut and made a strong first impression with a bunt single that resulted in a run in the third inning. Smith's speed will be an asset for the Rays -- he had five putouts in left field, showing his range -- and can be virtually a second leadoff hitter working out of the No. 9 hole. Once Colby Rasmus is healthy he likely goes to a backup role, but he'll make an early case for playing time until then.

Even though Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Colby Rasmus has been playing in spring training games as a designated hitter, he said on Saturday that he expects to begin the season on the disabled list.Rasmus told the Tampa Bay Times that he still cannot run well enough to play in the field because he has considerable discomfort as a result of the hip and core muscle repair surgery he underwent."We've been trying to progress up to that point, but it's probably looking like I'm going to start on the DL," Rasmus told the Times. "It's not nothing major but I don't feel that I'm ready to run something down in the gap for nine innings. "I've been doing a lot of outfield work and it feels pretty good, but I don't think I'm quite to that point yet."Rasmus might miss only six games."We'll just have to see how it goes day by day," he said. "I had hoped that I would be able to maybe DH, but that's not what they're looking for me to do."With Rasmus' status uncertain, outfielder Mallex Smith probably will make the Opening Day roster, and he might be the starter in left field.Rasmus, 30, signed a one-year deal with the Rays as a free agent in January after hitting .206 with 15 home runs for the Houston Astros last season.

OF Mallex Smith impressed the club with his speed before a fractured thumb cost him 77 games. Smith is the fastest player on the team and has potential for 40-plus steals. But the addition of Matt Kemp to the lineup leaves him with no place to play, unless the Braves deal Ender Inciarte or Nick Markakis -- or Smith.

OF Mallex Smith, out since breaking his left thumb June 19, was activated from the 60-day disabled list Friday after Double-A Mississippi was eliminated in the Southern League championship series and had a pinch single against the Nationals. He played in 12 rehab games, batting .438 in the regular season and .233 in the playoffs. Smith had a .237 average in 58 games with Atlanta before being injured.

OF Mallex Smith, out since breaking his left thumb on June 19, was activated from the 60-day disabled list by the Braves. He is batting .237 with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 58 games.

OF Mallex Smith, a rookie who has been on the disabled list since June 22 with a fractured left thumb, will stay with Double-A Mississippi until the conclusion of the minor league playoffs. 3B Rio Ruiz will remain with Triple-A Gwinnett until the playoffs end. Smith and Ruiz will both be brought up at that time, manager Brian Snitker said.

OF Mallex Smith (fractured left thumb) was sent on a rehab assignment to Double-A Mississippi. He went 2-for-3 Thursday with two RBIs. Smith has been on the disabled list since June 20.

OF Mallex Smith was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL on Wednesday, clearing a spot on the Braves' 40-man roster for newly acquired RHP Wilfredo Boscan. Smith remains sidelined due to a fractured left thumb.

OF Mallex Smith is making progress in his return from a broken thumb but is not expected back before Sept. 1, according to interim manager Brian Snitker. Smith hit .237 with three homers and 21 RBIs in his first 169 at-bats in the majors this season.

OF Mallex Smith still has his fractured left thumb in a cast but that's not preventing him from participating in other baseball activities. "We're waiting for him to heal," Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. "He's still in a cast, but he can run." Smith has been on the disabled list since June 20.

OF Mallex Smith (fractured left thumb) was placed on the disabled list after he was hit by a pitch on Sunday by New York Mets LHP Antonio Bastardo. Smith, a 23-year-old rookie, is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks. A former fifth-round pick of the San Diego Padres, Smith is hitting .237 this season with a .691 OPS -- below-average numbers for an outfielder. He is fast with 14 steals, but he has been caught seven times.

OF Mallex Smith (fractured left thumb) was placed on the DL after he was hit by a pitch on Sunday by New York Mets LHP Antonio Bastardo. Smith is expected to miss eight-to-10 weeks.