MLB Player News

Interim manager Chad Tracy said Friday that Crochet (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session this weekend and live batting practice early next week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Crochet has been sidelined since April 25 due to left shoulder inflammation, but he continues to check boxes in his rehab process and appears to be nearing a return to Boston's rotation. It's unclear if Crochet will go out on a rehab assignment or if the Red Sox will simply use live BP and simulated games to get his arm built back up for starts. It's been a rough start to the 2026 campaign for Crochet, who owns a 6.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB across his first 30 innings.

Interim manager Chad Tracy said Friday that Mayer will start at shortstop Sunday against the Twins and will see extended playing time at the position while Trevor Story (abdomen) recovers from sports hernia surgery, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Story is expected to be sidelined 6-to-10 weeks following surgery Thursday, and the Red Sox have been using multiple players at shortstop this week. Nick Sogard is starting there Friday, and Andruw Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa have both seen action at the position. With Mayer kicking over from second base, those same players will likely fight for playing time at second. Mayer hasn't played shortstop at the major-league level since his first two career games last May.

Crawford (triceps) is hitting leadoff and playing shortstop Friday against the Royals.

Crawford was scratched from the lineup Wednesday against the White Sox with a sore triceps, but he's back in there following Thursday's off day. With Crawford at shortstop, rookie Colt Emerson is playing third base and hitting ninth. Crawford is hitting just .210 this season but has a .358 on-base percentage.

Diaz (hand) is back in the lineup at designated hitter and hitting fourth Friday against the Yankees, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

Diaz was hit on the hand by a pitch Tuesday against the Orioles and was out of the lineup Wednesday ahead of Thursday's off day. He's now good to go against Gerrit Cole on Friday. Diaz has a current six-game hitting streak. He's gone 11-for-24 (.458) with three doubles, three homers, 10 RBI, seven runs scored and three walks during that span.

Grisham (knee) is batting leadoff and starting in center field Friday against the Rays, Randy Miller of NJ.com reports.

Grisham was forced from Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays in the second inning and didn't play Thursday. All of his scans came back clean, and Grisham has been cleared to return to the lineup Friday. The 29-year-old is having a difficult time at the plate in 2026, slashing just .174/.305/.348 with six homers, 27 RBI, 27 runs scored, three stolen bases and a 30:35 BB:K across 187 trips to the dish.

The Yankees activated Caballero (finger) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Caballero missed just 11 days with a fractured right middle finger, and he's back in the lineup at shortstop, hitting seventh, against the Rays on Friday. Anthony Volpe will head to the bench for the Yankees. Caballero has slashed .259/.320/.400 with four home runs, 13 RBI, 18 runs scored, 13 stolen bases and an 8:29 BB:K across 147 plate appearances this season.

The Yankees activated Cole (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

The right-hander will make his 2026 season debut Friday against the Rays. Cole missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery and will make his first regular-season big-league start since Sept. 26, 2024. The 35-year-old made six rehab starts leading up to Friday's debut and posted a 4.66 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 28:3 K:BB across 29 innings.

Sanchez (chest) is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.

Sanchez will play right field and bat seventh against right-hander Bubba Chandler. Sanchez was removed from Wednesday's contest against the Yankees and didn't start Thursday's series finale with left-hander Carlos Rodon on the mound. Sanchez has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games, raising his slash line to .277/.316/.426 with five home runs, 21 RBI, 16 runs scored, one stolen base and a 7:29 BB:K across 155 trips to the plate.

The Guardians optioned Heuer to Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

With Peyton Pallette back from paternity leave, Heuer will return to Columbus, where he owns a 2.57 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB across 14 innings. He's pitched in two games for Cleveland this season, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts covering 2.2 innings.

The Guardians activated Pallette from the paternity list Friday.

The rookie right-hander rejoins the Cleveland bullpen after spending the previous three days with his family. He owns a 5.49 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 21:13 K:BB across 19.2 innings this season.