Valdez is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.

Valdez had started each of the previous 18 games at first base against right-handed pitching, but he will begin this one on the bench as Atlanta sends righty Bryce Elder to the hill. Matt Gorski will play first base and bat sixth for the Pirates.

Elko is slashing .348/.431/.670 with 10 home runs and a 28.5 percent strikeout rate in 31 games for Triple-A Charlotte.

Elko is a righty-hitting first baseman who is already 26, so it's possible he's just a Quad-A hitter when it's all said and done. His 27.6 percent hard-hit rate and 67 percent contact rate aren't great marks, especially for an older first baseman. Elko is not yet on Chicago's 40-man roster.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Gonzalez (back) is still sore but believes the infielder will be ready at some point this weekend, MLB.com reports.

Gonzalez was held out of Thursday's series finale against Rangers after sustaining a back injury Wednesday when he ran into Texas first baseman Josh Smith. Abraham Toro started at first base for the Red Sox on Thursday.

Guerrero went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a walk in Thursday's win over the Angels.

Guerrero extended his hitting streak to 10 games and delivered his third multi-hit effort during the streak. The All-Star first baseman is batting sizzling .359 (14-for-39) with two homers, one double, six RBI and nine runs scored in those 10 contests. Although Guerrero has just four round trippers over 139 at-bats this season, his top-tier 54.2 percent hard-hit rate entering Thursday's action suggests some positive regression could be on the horizon in the power department.

Torkelson went 5-for-9 with two doubles, four RBI and two runs scored as the Tigers swept Thursday's doubleheader versus the Rockies.

Torkelson hadn't put together a multi-hit effort since April 17, but he took advantage of the Rockies' lackluster pitching in the twin bill. Over seven games in May, the first baseman has gone 9-for-30 (.300) with five extra-base hits and eight RBI. He's up to a .254/.356/.551 slash line with 10 homers, 11 doubles, 32 RBI, 28 runs scored and a stolen base over 38 games this season. Torkelson's performance took a step back in 2024, but he could have a breakout year in his fourth major-league season.

Gonzalez (back) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Gonzalez has been serving as Boston's primary option at first base since Triston Casas suffered a ruptured patella tendon Friday, but the former was forced out of Wednesday's 6-4 win due to back stiffness and will need at least one game off to recover. Abraham Toro will step in at first base in Thursday's series finale.

Santana went 1-for-5 with a double, three RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-6 win over the Nationals.

The Guardians were held in check for the first five innings, but they eventually solved Washington starter Michael Soroka the third time through the lineup. Cleveland scored all eight of its runs in the sixth inning, when Santana kicked off the scoring with a three-run double. It was the second straight game with three RBI for Santana, who has driven home nine over the last six contests.

Toglia went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, a walk and two total RBI in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to Detroit.

Toglia and teammate Ryan McMahon each had two doubles and a homer in the contest, and the pair combined for four RBI. Toglia's long ball was a 413-foot, two-run shot in the third inning that broke a 3-3 tie. This was a much-needed positive performance for the young first baseman -- coming into Wednesday, he had gone 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts over his first four games in May (all road contests in San Francisco).

Wade went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Cubs.

Wade lined an RBI double into right field off right-hander Ben Brown, driving in the first of two runs in the fourth inning. The lefty-hitting first baseman has shown improvement after a lackluster start to the season, recording at least one hit in four of his last five games. Wade is now slashing .158/.259/.267 with 13 RBI, nine runs scored, eight extra-base hits and a 14:26 BB:K across 117 plate appearances this year.

Gonzalez was pulled from Wednesday's game against the Rangers due to back stiffness, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Manager Alex Cora said after the game that the 28-year-old infielder is fine after his collision with Texas' Josh Smith, though Gonzalez's back stiffened up on him following the incident. The Red Sox may elect to hold him out of Thursday's series finale as a precaution, though Gonzalez should avoid an extended absence.