MLB Player News

Gasper will likely miss the AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees after suffering a biceps injury during the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

The results of Gasper's MRI have not been disclosed, but it sounds like the Red Sox are preparing to be without him for at least the first round of the playoffs. Gasper was injured on a swinging strikeout in the fifth inning of Friday's matinee. Manager Chad Tracy said afterward that Gasper was in "some pretty good discomfort."

Rafaela remains out of the starting lineup for the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Right hamstring tightness forced Rafaela from Wednesday's game -- his very first game back from a right quad strain -- though he was back in the lineup Thursday. He may be dealing with some lingering effects of the hamstring injury. It's also possible the Red Sox are just playing it safe with their playoff seeding now set.

Santander (shoulder) will not be returning to the Blue Jays this season, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Santander had been working his way back from left shoulder surgery, advancing to a rehab assignment earlier this month. However, he had a back issue crop up during his assignment, and the Blue Jays ultimately decided to have him get an early start on his offseason training. Santander did not make a single big-league appearance this season and has totaled just 54 regular-season games played in his first two years with Toronto.

The Red Sox recalled Paez from Triple-A Worcester after the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs.

Paez will be up to provide length out of the bullpen in the nightcap, replacing Raymond Burgos on the active roster. Paez has allowed a whopping 14 runs in 6.2 innings in the majors, but he fared well in five starts with Worcester this season, posting a 2.08 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 26:3 K:BB in 21.2 innings. He threw six innings of one-run ball in his most recent Triple-A outing back on Sept. 15.

The Red Sox optioned Burgos after the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs.

Burgos tossed two hitless and scoreless innings in Game 1, fanning three. With MLB not allowing teams to add an extra player for twin bills in September, Boston went ahead and swapped Burgos out for a fresh arm in Jedixson Paez.

Meidroth is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies.

Meidroth has been running hot lately, collecting multiple hits in each of his last three games and slashing .385/.429/.615 over his last 10 games. However, he will get a breather Friday as the White Sox go with Sam Antonacci at second base and Randal Grichuk in left field against right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano.

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said after the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs that Gasper (biceps) will undergo an MRI, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Gasper was forced from the matinee with right biceps discomfort, and the team has ordered imaging to get a better read on his condition. The Red Sox are already facing the possibility of being without Willson Contreras (hand) in the wild-card round, and if both Contreras and Gasper are unavailable, Nick Sogard may be needed at first base.

Gimenez is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.

With southpaw Nick Lodolo on the bump for Cincinnati, Gimenez will give way to Ernie Clement at shortstop as Charles McAdoo starts at second base. Gimenez is slashing .267/.313/.400 with one home and one steal in 17 games this month around a brief absence due to hamstring soreness.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz indicated Friday that Alexander (back) will not be activated from the 10-day injured list before the end of the season, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Alexander has been out since early September with back spasms. His back is still bothing him, so the out-of-contention Orioles won't press the issue. Alexander was limited to 93 games this season due to injury but was a valuable super utility player when on the field, slashing .303/.358/.414 with four home runs and 10 stolen bases. The 27-year-old will likely have a similar role with the Orioles in 2027.

Gasper was removed from the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs due to right biceps discomfort, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Gasper has been a surprisingly productive player for Boston this season, slashing .251/.357/.466 with 10 homers in 67 games, but his availability for the rest of the weekend is up in the air in light of this injury. If healthy, Gasper figures to factor in heavily during the wild-card round, especially if Willson Contreras (hand) remains out.