MLB Player News

Walls was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Mariners due to a left groin injury, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Walls started feeling discomfort during Friday's game, and the issue persisted enough for him to be removed from Saturday's lineup, though he could be available to pinch hit. In 18 games since the All-Star break, Walls has slashed .236/.263/.418 with three steals, seven doubles, one home run and nine RBI in 59 plate appearances.

Walls (undisclosed) was scratched from the Rays' starting lineup against the Mariners on Saturday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Walls was originally slated to start at shortstop. Now that he's out of the lineup, Ha-Seong Kim will move to shortstop while Tristan Gray starts at the keystone. The Rays are likely to provide an update on Walls after Saturday's game.

Stephenson threw a bullpen session Friday and "came through it fine," per interim manager Ray Montgomery, and the veteran reliever may next begin a minor-league rehab assignment, according to MLB.com.

Stephenson has had an injury-plagued campaign and has gotten into only two games so far for the Angels. His current injury is a stretched nerve in his right biceps and he's on the 60-day IL, so he isn't eligible to be activated until the final week of August. The positive news is that Stephenson has been able to deploy his full arsenal during recent bullpen sessions, and while he could be asked to toss more bullpens before he's deemed ready for game action, a minor-league rehab stint appears to be in the works in the near future.

Mangum is not in the Rays' starting lineup against the Mariners on Saturday.

The Rays will start Chandler Simpson, Tristan Peters and Josh Lowe in the outfield from left to right. Mangum has struggled at the plate in the 18 games since the All-Star break, posting a .389 OPS with three steals and two RBI over that span.

Barger is not in the Blue Jays' starting lineup against the Dodgers on Saturday.

Barger will begin Saturday's game on the bench, with Myles Straw in right field and Buddy Kennedy drawing the start at third base. Barger has logged two hits in three of his last four games and has gone 9-for-29 (.310) with two home runs and eight RBI in seven games since the beginning of August.

Loperfido (knee) is not in the Blue Jays' starting lineup against the Dodgers on Saturday.

It's the third game in a row that Loperfido will not be in the lineup as he continues to nurse a right knee contusion that he suffered against the Rockies on Tuesday. The Blue Jays will start Davis Schneider, Daulton Varsho and Myles Straw in the outfield from left to right.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Cole (elbow) could be close to throwing, Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News reports. "I think it's soon," Boone said, "but I don't have an announcement."

Cole also stated Friday that he is scheduled to begin throwing this month and even said he has a tentative date in mind, though he didn't share what that date is. The veteran hurler underwent Tommy John surgery with internal bracing in mid-March and isn't going to pitch in games this season, though if he is indeed able to resume throwing in the relatively near future, it would increase optimism about his ability to be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. At this point, however, it's up in the air whether Cole will have progressed enough by Opening Day 2026 to be on the mound for the Yankees.

Yarbrough (oblique) will face hitters either in a live bullpen session or in a minor-league rehab game Sunday, Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News reports.

Yarbrough landed on the injured list June 22 due to a right oblique strain. He was shut down from throwing until mid-July and has since been working his way back, advancing to bullpen sessions in late July and tossing his first live session this past Thursday. Manager Aaron Boone indicated Saturday that Yarbrough could throw in a minor-league game with Double-A Somerset on Sunday, but that it's more likely the lefty hurler will toss another live bullpen. In either case, Yarbrough is on track to be ready for activation in late August or early September.

Cruz (oblique) is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session with Double-A Somerset on Sunday, Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News reports.

Cruz has been on the injured list since June 30 due to a severe left oblique strain. He began throwing bullpen sessions in late July and has shown enough progress to advance to facing hitters. Since Cruz's absence has already lasted over a month, he'll likely need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he's ready to rejoin the Yankees. Nonetheless, a return before the end of August is feasible.

Perez (elbow) allowed one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out two across four innings in his rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

Perez made his second rehab start as he works his way back from the left flexor tendon strain that landed him on the injured list in mid-April. The veteran southpaw didn't allow a hit until the third inning, and he was able to escape a bases-loaded jam in the fourth after yielding a run on a balk. Perez will make at least one more rehab start at Triple-A before returning from the IL, likely at some point in the back half of August.