MLB Player News

Kochanowicz is scheduled to start Sunday against Atlanta at Angel Stadium.

The rookie right-hander will make a second straight turn through the rotation and stick around as the club's No. 5 starter over Davis Daniel, who was optioned to Triple-A Salt on Tuesday. Kochanowicz struck out two batters and allowed just two runs over 7.2 innings en route to claiming his first big-league victory his last time out Sunday against the Nationals, but the 23-year-old was lit up for 12 runs (11 earned) in seven innings across his first two starts with the Angels back in July before he was sent back to the minors.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Scherzer received a nerve injection for his right shoulder and is feeling "really good," Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer was sent in for a precautionary MRI earlier this week after he had struggled to bounce back from right shoulder fatigue, an issue he contended with during his most recent start July 30 before landing on the injured list three days later. The recent diagnostic tests apparently didn't reveal anything too concerning, and Scherzer's condition finally seems to be trending back up again now after getting the injection. The veteran right-hander is still without a clear timeline for his return from the IL, and a target date likely won't come into focus until he's cleared to start throwing again.

Larnach isn't in the Twins' lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

The lefty-hitting Larnach will get a breather Thursday while southpaw Cody Bradford starts on the bump for Texas. Manuel Margot, Austin Martin and Max Kepler will make up the Twins' outfield while Larnach sits.

Jeffers isn't in the Twins' lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Jeffers went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts during Wednesday's contest, snapping his brief three-game hitting streak, and he'll now take a seat as he continues to split time behind the dish with Christian Vazquez.

Bradford is slated to start Thursday's game against the Twins at Globe Life Field.

Bradford will be making a third consecutive appearance as a starter, an unexpected development after the Rangers moved him to the bullpen during his minor-league rehab assignment before he was activated from the 60-day injured list July 29. However, with injuries to Jon Gray (groin), Max Scherzer (shoulder) and Nathan Eovaldi (oblique) having since tested the Rangers' starting depth, Bradford looks like he could have a pathway to a rotation spot. Bradford has turned in a solid 12:1 K:BB while allowing four earned runs over 8.2 innings across his last two starts, and a strong outing Thursday should be enough to keep him ahead of Jose Urena and Dane Dunning in the rotation pecking order. Even though Eovaldi is expected to avoid an IL stint, the Rangers should have room in the rotation for two of Bradford, Urena and Dunning until at least two of Gray, Scherzer or Jacob deGrom (elbow) return from the IL.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday on "Foul Territory" that Trevino (quad) will be activated from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Boone also reiterated that Austin Wells would continue to see the bulk of the playing time at catcher after Trevino returns. Trevino has been sidelined since mid-July due to a Grade 2 left quad strain and has gone 2-for-8 in three rehab games with Double-A Somerset.

The Rays optioned Sulser to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Sulser struck out two in a scoreless inning during his lone appearance after the Rays recalled him this past weekend. The transaction clears a spot for Ryan Pepiot (knee), who will return from the 15-day injured list to start Friday against the Diamondbacks.

Jimenez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Red Sox.

Jimenez made four straight starts from Aug. 3-7 but has not started consecutive games over the past week. Each of his last two starts have been against left-handers, as he now looks to be pegged for a short-side platoon at designated hitter with Ryan O'Hearn.

Mountcastle is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

It's a routine day off for Mountcastle, who had started each of the previous four contests. Ryan O'Hearn is playing first base for the Orioles while Adley Rutschman handles designated-hitter duties.

The Angels designated Calhoun for assignment Thursday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Calhoun has been the Angels' primary designated hitter and cleanup man against right-handed pitching since he was added to the roster back in early May. However, after slashing just .245/.315/.380 over 254 plate appearances, the Halos have decided to remove him from the 26-man and 40-man rosters. Calhoun seems likely to clear waivers. Manager Ron Washington could opt to filter through multiple players at DH down the stretch.