MLB Player News

Ortiz was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Ortiz will return to Norfolk after he went 5-for-19 with a double, three runs scored and six strikeouts over eight games following his call-up May 14. Ramon Urias (hamstring) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday and will replace Ortiz on the major-league roster.

Frazier is in the leadoff spot for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

It's the first time this season batting higher than fifth in the order for Frazier, who's coming into this one hitting .342/.357/.634 with three home runs over his last 11 games. The team's normal leadoff man against righties, Cedric Mullins, is getting a day off.

Haggerty went 1-for-3 with a two-run double, a walk and a run in an win over the Athletics on Wednesday.

The valued utility asset slotted into the No. 9 hole in place of Ty France (wrist) and delivered nicely, doubling home the first two runs of the game for Seattle in the fourth inning. Haggerty has scuffled at the plate all season and is carrying a .162 average and .478 OPS across his first 42 plate appearances, but the unusual combination of an especially low .222 BABIP and elevated 25.9 percent line-drive rate imply he's had his fair share of bad luck when putting the ball in play. With France potentially set to miss "a few days" per the team's official site, Haggerty could be in line for at least another spot start or two.

Lowe (neck) is back in the starting lineup Thursday versus the Blue Jays, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Lowe sat out Tuesday and Wednesday because of a stiff neck, but he is good to go for Thursday afternoon's series finale at Tropicana Field. The 28-year-old second baseman is batting just .200 on the year but has managed to tally eight home runs and 24 RBI in 42 games. He'll hit cleanup for the Rays in his return Thursday.

Merrifield is not in the lineup Thursday in Tampa Bay, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It's a rare day off for Merrifield, who had started 17 of the previous 18 contests. Cavan Biggio will cover second base.

Torres went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Orioles.

Both homers came off Baltimore starter Tyler Wells, helping give the Yankees a 5-1 lead that evaporated in the top of the seventh. Torres has three long balls in the last three games, giving him nine on the season, and through 22 contests in May he's slashing a strong .284/.343/.511.

Frazier went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 9-6 win over the Yankees.

With the Orioles down 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Frazier got the comeback started by clanking a Nestor Cortes fastball off the right-field foul pole. It's Frazier's sixth homer of the season and third in the last nine games, a stretch in which he's batting .353 (12-for-34) with seven runs and nine RBI.

Brujan was optioned to Triple-A Durham by the Rays on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan's latest stint in the majors lasted just one day. The Rays are sending him down in order to bring up a fresh relief arm.

Gonzalez went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Guardians.

Gonzalez has started each of the White Sox's last four games with Hanser Alberto (shoulder) sidelined and Elvis Andrus (oblique) on the injured list. He's collected five hits across 15 at-bats in that span, tallying six RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. For the season, Gonzalez is still hitting just .200, and he's almost certain to lose playing time when either Alberto or Andrus return.

Short went 1-for-1 with a walk, a three-run home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Royals.

Short pinch hit for Akil Baddoo in the sixth inning when Kansas City turned to lefty Josh Taylor. Short made the decision pay off, as he launched his second home run of the season with two runners on to put the Tigers up 4-1. The utility infielder is now batting .280 with a .939 OPS through 16 games, but he's unlikely to be a regular fantasy contributor unless he starts to see more playing time.