MLB Player News

Andrus (oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Andrus will join the White Sox in Chicago ahead of a three-game series with the Tigers. The 34-year-old has been out since May 13 with an oblique strain, and he could face competition from a surging Romy Gonzalez (.306 with three homers and 10 RBI in his last 12 games) for the starting role at second base. Andrus is batting just .201 with five extra-base hits while striking out in a career-high 17.2 percent of his at-bats this season.

Merrifield went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's win over the Brewers.

After batting .372 (16-for-43) over the final 12 games in May, Merrifield had no problem carrying his momentum over into June. The 34-year-old's hot streak has pushed his slash line on the season to .295/.345/.388, and with 15 steals in 50 games he's on pace to reach the 40 SB plateau for the third time in his career.

Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a home run, two total runs and three total RBI in Thursday's 8-2 victory over the Reds.

Hernandez came up big late in the contest, giving Boston its first lead with a 411-foot solo shot in the seventh inning and plating another pair of runs with a single in the eighth. The multi-hit effort was his first since May 17, a span of 11 games. Hernandez hit just .194 over 31 at-bats during that stretch, so Thursday's performance was a particularly positive way to start the new month.

Polanco (hamstring) is batting leadoff in his return to the lineup Thursday night against the Guardians.

Polanco was activated from the injured list Thursday morning after missing around two weeks with a left hamstring strain. He's produced a solid .811 OPS in 23 games this year when healthy, mostly hitting near the middle of the Twins' batting order. Thursday marks his first appearance out of the leadoff spot in 2023.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that he's unsure if Arroyo (hamstring) will be activated this weekend, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Arroyo has already logged 15 plate appearances on a rehab stint with Triple-A Worcester and is slashing .357/.400/.429, but he apparently has a bit more proving to do on the farm. He's in the lineup again for Worcester on Thursday night. It's a right hamstring strain that has kept the 28-year-old infielder sidelined since May 7.

Altuve is back in the leadoff spot Thursday versus the Angels.

Altuve got a breather Wednesday in the final game of the Astros' previous series versus the Twins, but he's rested and ready Thursday for the opening of a four-game set against the Halos. The star second baseman boasts a .324/.425/.588 slash line in 40 plate appearances since returning two weeks ago from March 19 surgery to repair a fracture in his right thumb.

Drury (arm) has returned to the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Astros.

Drury sat out Wednesday after taking a pitch off the arm during Tuesday's loss to the White Sox. He's ready to roll now and will serve as the second baseman, batting cleanup against Ronel Blanco.

Valdez is starting at second base and batting ninth Thursday against the Reds, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Valdez usually bats eighth in front of catcher Connor Wong against right-handers, but the two have flip-flopped spots for this one. The rookie infielder homered Wednesday but overall has slumped the last couple weeks, going 6-for-35 across his last 13 contests.

Gimenez went 4-for-5 with two RBI in Wednesday's 12-8 win over the Orioles.

Gimenez has four multi-hit efforts and four 0-fers in his last eight games, going 10-for-28 (.357) with one double and three RBI in that span. Even with this showing, he ends May having hit just .230 with three extra-base hits over 25 contests. The second baseman remains a near-everyday player despite a lackluster .242/.305/.344 slash line through 204 plate appearances this season.

The Twins optioned Julien to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.

It wasn't Julien's performance that punched his ticket back to the minors, as he batted .286/.333/.500 with two home runs and four RBI in 36 plate appearances since being called up May 20. Rather, Jorge Polanco (hamstring) is back from the injured list, and the Twins felt Julien wasn't going to get enough playing time to warrant being carried on the roster. He'll receive everyday at-bats with St. Paul as he awaits another chance with the parent club.