MLB Player News

Lowe went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss against Milwaukee.

Lowe's fourth-inning blast put the Rangers on the board, pulling them to within one at the time. Lowe has been a constant source of production all season, but has picked it up even more since the All-Star break, hitting .297 with six home runs and 20 RBI and 21 runs scored across 118 at-bats.

Schanuel is playing first base and batting leadoff in his major-league debut Friday versus the Rays.

Schanuel will be thrust right to the top of the Angels' batting order just 40 days after being selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Florida Atlantic University. He was slashing .370/.510/.493 through his first 96 professional plate appearances this summer between the Arizona Complex League, Single-A Inland Empire and Double-A Rocket City. C.J. Cron (back) went on the injured list Friday, giving the 21-year-old Schanuel a prime opportunity to put a good foot forward at baseball's highest level.

The Angels placed Cron on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Aug. 16, with lower-back inflammation.

This back discomfort first popped up last weekend and Cron will now be sidelined until at least next Saturday. The 33-year-old first baseman has slashed just .217/.280/.283 with one home run in 14 games (50 plate appearances) since being acquired from the Rockies ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Abreu (back) has yet to resume swinging a bat, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Abreu won't be activated from the 10-day injured list when first eligible this Sunday and he might struggle to return before the end of August unless he's able to ramp up within the next week. The veteran first baseman has been sidelined since Aug. 10 due to lower-back inflammation.

Cron was set to have his ailing back re-evaluated Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Cron has started just one of the last four games and wasn't available to play off the bench in the Angels' most recent contest Wednesday due to a nagging back issue which dates back to earlier this season when he was with the Rockies. With the news that Nolan Schanuel is being called up, it's possible Cron heading to the IL will be the corresponding move for that transaction. Even without the injury, Cron likely will face a dip in playing time upon Schanuel's arrival with Shohei Ohtani a fixture at DH.

The Angels selected Schanuel's contract from Double-A Rocket City on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Just over a month ago, Schanuel was taken with the 11th overall pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, so he'll be making quite the rapid ascent to the big leagues. Schanuel batted .370/.510/.493 with one home run, four doubles, 15 RBI and a 10:21 K:BB over 21 games across three levels in the minors to convince the Angels he was ready for his debut. The 21-year-old will likely take over as the Halos' regular first baseman, at least against right-handers, as they try to claw their way back into the playoff hunt. Schanuel also played some corner outfield in college, although he didn't see any action in the outfield in the minors. It's possible he could be used in the outfield on days that C.J. Cron (back) is at first base.

Casas went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 10-7 loss to Washington.

Casas drilled a 431-foot homer to center in the third inning, which was Boston's lone run until a six-run uprising in the seventh. The home run was the first baseman's 20th of the season and 11th in 30 games since the All-Star break.

Pratto (groin) is set to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Omaha.

Pratto is recovered from the left groin strain that sent him to the injured list in late July, and he should be ready to return to the Royals' active roster by early next week after a few tune-up games on the farm. The 24-year-old first baseman and corner outfielder has mostly disappointed this season, slashing just .238/.324/.376 with seven homers and 31 RBI across 299 major-league plate appearances.

Noda (jaw) went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, three walks and a run over two rehab games with Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Noda led off in both games, and although he filled the designated hitter role Tuesday, he was able to play first base for seven innings Wednesday. With his timing at the plate apparently no worse for wear after going on the injured list July 19, Noda may only need one more rehab game before being deemed ready to return.

France went 1-for-1 with an RBI single, three walks and a run in a win over the Royals on Wednesday.

Fresh off a four-hit tally Tuesday, France played some small ball to perfection a day later with a pesky effort that featured his third multi-walk tally over his last 11 games. The veteran infielder carries a .353 average and astounding .511 on-base percentage over the 45 plate appearances covering that span, a sample during which he's also knocked in 10 runs thanks to a .714 average with runners in scoring position.