MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Barger (elbow) is "making progress" while continuing to ramp up his hitting at the team's complex in Florida, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Along with moving through a hitting progression, Barger has also been able to do some throwing. Barger is working his way back from a bout with right elbow inflammation, which sent him to the injured list May 11, just two days after he returned from a month-long stay on the shelf due to right and left ankle sprains.

Hiraldo (shoulder) threw a bullpen session last week, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

It was his first time throwing off the mound since he went down with right shoulder inflammation in early April. Hiraldo will need a rehab assignment before being activated, and it's not a given that he'll return to the major-league club once's he's off the IL.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Miles will shift into a bullpen role during the upcoming week, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Miles had been filling out a back-end spot in the Blue Jays' injury-plagued rotation for the past month, making two starts and four bulk-relief appearances while pitching to a 3.57 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB in 22.2 innings. Though the Rule 5 pick acquitted himself well in that capacity, the Blue Jays no longer have room for Miles in their five-man rotation with Dylan Cease (hamstring) and Max Scherzer (forearm) set to return from the 15-day injured list within the next few days.

Povich (elbow) will resume throwing bullpen sessions this week, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Inflammation in his left elbow landed Povich on the 15-day injured list exactly one month ago, and he's finally improved enough to throw off the mound again. The southpaw is likely to require at least one rehab start before rejoining the Orioles. If Povich beats Dean Kremer (quadriceps) and/or Chris Bassitt (back) back from the IL, he'll have a good chance to enter the Baltimore rotation.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Kirk (thumb) could be available to return from the 60-day injured list as soon as Friday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Kirk is nearing the finish line of a long recovery from left thumb surgery, which has kept him on the shelf since April 4. The 27-year-old began a rehab assignment last week at Single-A Dunedin, making two starts at designated hitter and one at catcher while going 2-for-9 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run. He'll get a couple days of rest before shifting his rehab assignment to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, when he's expected to serve as a designated hitter. Schneider added that Kirk is then in line to start at catcher for Buffalo on Wednesday, and if all goes well, the two-time All-Star will rejoin the Blue Jays for Friday's series opener versus the Yankees.

Cease (hamstring) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Phillies in Toronto, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Cease made his one and only rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo last Thursday, giving up five runs on six hits and one walk while striking out six over four innings. He's been shelved for just two weeks and threw 75 pitches in his rehab outing, so Cease should have close to a full workload at his disposal when taking on the Phillies. The veteran hurler is coming back from a strained left hamstring.

Lux (shoulder) is scheduled to take live batting practice against teammate Craig Kimbrel (wrist) on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays announced May 12 that Lux was pulled off his minor-league rehab assignment due to left shoulder inflammation, after it was a right shoulder impingement sustained back in the spring that initially caused him to open the season on the shelf. Lux had been shut down from all baseball activities shortly after experiencing the setback, but the Rays' decision to clear him to face live pitching Tuesday suggests that he's been able to ramp back up over the last week or so. Tampa Bay hasn't provided any indication regarding when Lux might resume his rehab assignment, however, so his return from the 60-day IL shouldn't be viewed as imminent.

Noel was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Norfolk on Monday with left wrist inflammation, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Noel hasn't played in almost two weeks because of the injury, and he is set to miss additional time. The 24-year-old has been a disaster at Norfolk this season, slashing .121/.217/.243 with three homers and a 30 percent strikeout rate over 120 plate appearances.

Kimbrel (wrist) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Kimbrel had made only one appearance for the Rays before going down with a right wrist strain at the end of May. It's unclear whether the club will ask him to make any rehab appearances first, but Kimbrel looks to be on track for activation from the 15-day injured list when first eligible Friday.

Jackson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.

Jackson had been handling a near-everyday role for the first two months of the season, but his playing time has dropped off considerably since Jackson Holliday was reinstated from the injured list May 18. The Orioles will keep Jackson on the bench for an eighth straight game Monday, marking by far the longest stretch he's been out of the lineup all season after he previously went no more than two games without a start.