MLB Player News

Barretto cleared intake protocols and was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old was acquired by the Angels from the A's on Friday, but he had yet to join his new team while going through the COVID-19 intake protocols. Barreto had only 10 plate appearances this season prior to the trade, and he's expected to fill a utility role with his new team.

Torres (hamstring) hopes to return to the Yankees on Friday, Anthony Reiber of Newsday reports.

Torres will report to the team's alternate training site Thursday and said he likely won't need much time to get ready before rejoining the team, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. The 23-year-old is well ahead of his return timeline, but the Yankees could potentially ease him back into action once he returns to prevent a long-term issue.

Chavis will serve as Boston's designated hitter and will bat sixth Wednesday against the Braves, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Chavis looked like he might have been in line to see his playing time tail off after Boston called up first-base prospect Bobby Dalbec on Sunday, but Monday's trade that sent Kevin Pillar to the Rockies seems to have benefited Chavis. J.D. Martinez (hand) will return from a two-game absence to start in left field, which could become his permanent more permanent home, given that the Red Sox lack any other established, healthy outfielders beyond Alex Verdugo and Jackie Bradley. If that's the case, Boston could rotate first base and the DH spot between Chavis and Dalbec, allowing both young bats to stick in the everyday lineup.

Lowe isn't in Wednesday's lineup against the Yankees.

Lowe has gone hitless with one walk and four strikeouts over the past two games, and he'll get a day off with lefty Jordan Montgomery on the mound for the Yankees on Wednesday. Hunter Renfroe will take over in right field.

Manager Bob Melvin said that he thinks Semien (side) to avoid a trip to the injured list, though the shortstop isn't expected to be available for the Athletics' next game Friday versus the Padres, Shayna Rubin of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Before returning to action Friday, the Athletics will have had a full five days off after a member of their organization tested positive for COVID-19. The extra time off apparently hasn't allowed Semien to completing move past the injury, which has affected him most while swinging the bat, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The Athletics seem content to take a day-to-day approach with Semien heading into the weekend, but Chad Pinder and Vimael Machin could pick up work at shortstop in the short term.

Andrus is being challenged by manager Chris Woodward to be more productive offensively, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Andrus hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Tuesday's win over the Astros, but prior to that at-bat, he'd hit three meek grounders, two of which ended in double plays. Andrus, who has the fifth lowest OPS (.680) over the last three seasons among hitters with at least 1,000 plate appearances, has been resistant to the statistical analysis the Rangers have offered and laments the increasing reliance on metrics in baseball as a whole. "The toughest thing for me is to not to believe my instincts during the game and to actually believe more in a piece of paper, or report," he said. "That's where the game is right now. I think that's what I've been a little hard-headed about." Woodward, a statistically-inclined manager, has given the 12-year veteran data that indicates opposing pitchers know his power zones, and they avoid them when pitching to him. As a result, Andrus has chased or taken defensive swings and experienced an offensive decline. Texas could decide to move on from Andrus and has candidates such as Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Anderson Tejeda ready to fill in.

Altuve went 3-for-5 and scored twice in a loss to Texas on Tuesday.

The veteran collected his third three-hit game of the campaign in the loss, though each of his base knocks were singles. It has been a down season for Altuve, who is hitting an uncharacteristic .225 overall. After seeming to get back on track in mid-August, the second baseman entered Tuesday's contest hitting only .150 (3-for-20) over his previous six games.

Andrus went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a victory over Houston on Tuesday.

In his first game since returning from a stint on the injured list, Andrus came up big with a solo shot to left field off Astros closer Ryan Pressly in the ninth inning to help send the game to extras. The clutch homer was a rare highlight for Andrus in what has been a difficult season. He is hitting a paltry .188 overall, and Tuesday's long ball was his first of 2020.

Castro (hamstring) is performing all baseball activities, recently adding baserunning, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Castro has been out for two weeks with a left hamstring strain, but he appears to be closing in on a return. He filled just a part-time role prior to the injury and will presumably be used similarly once healthy.

Torres (hamstring) could return to the lineup at some point during the Yankees' weekend series in Baltimore, source reports.

Torres seems to be well ahead of the 3-to-6-week timeline given by general manager Brian Cashman as recently as last Friday. He remains without a specific target date as he works his way back from a left hamstring strain, but he's expected to head to the Yankees' alternate training site for a few days to get some at-bats in soon before being activated shortly thereafter.