MLB Player News

Rodriguez (back) will make a rehab start Sunday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

After recently being placed on the injured list June 15, Rodriguez will make his return to a competitive setting Sunday. The 26-year-old recently threw off flat ground in the bullpen Sunday. Manager Kurt Suzuki said that it is possible this is the one and only rehab start that Rodriguez makes before rejoining the big-league club.

Boston recalled Cheng from Triple-A Worcester and he will start at shortstop against the Yankees on Friday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Cheng will make his season debut for Boston with Marcelo Mayer hitting the injured list with a left forearm injury. The 23-year-old Cheng may see extended playing time with Boston being depleted at the shortstop position with Isiah Kiner-Falefa (forearm), Trevor Story (abdomen) and Nick Sogard (oblique) all on the injured list in addition to Mayer. With Worcester, Cheng slashed .254/.351/.424 with seven homers and 18 RBI in 240 plate appearances.

The Red Sox placed Mayer on the 10-day injured list Friday with a stress reaction in his left forearm, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Interim manager Chad Tracy said that Mayer's injury is something that he's been dealing with for a while, so the team will place him on the IL to allow him to heal properly. Tsung-Che Cheng will come up from Triple-A Worcester to fill the open roster spot and is likely to receive a handful of starts while Boston also navigates injuries to Isiah Kiner-Falefa (forearm) and Nick Sogard (oblique).

Simpson is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Simpson will ride the bench for the series opener despite recording at least one hit in six of his last seven games, and even with the Diamondbacks starting a righty in Zac Gallen. Victor Mesa will replace Simpson in left field and bat seventh Friday.

Kreidler is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies.

Kreidler will hit the bench Friday after he went a collective 8-for-19 with a triple, a walk, six RBI and three runs while starting in the Twins' past five games. A lifetime .184/.257/.278 hitter in the big leagues, Kreidler's recent hot stretch at the plate is likely just a blip on the radar, but he could play ahead of Tristan Gray at shortstop more often than not until his bat cools.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rangers.

Kirk will get a break Friday after he went 1-for-7 at the plate while catching 18 innings over the past two days. Brandon Valenzuela will step in at catcher for Kirk and will bat eighth.

Jobe (elbow) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Jobe will continue his rehab at the Tigers' facility in Lakeland, Fla. He's already thrown handfuls of bullpen sessions and will now progress to facing live hitters this weekend, as the right-hander works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Jobe has a good chance to pitch for Detroit in the second half of the season.

Lee is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

Though Zach McKinstry will cover second base Friday, Lee appears to have emerged as the Tigers' primary option at the keystone since Gleyber Torres aggravated a left oblique injury June 15 and landed back on the shelf. Lee had started at second base in eight of the Tigers' previous nine games, going 9-for-26 (.346 average) with two doubles, two runs and one RBI over that span.

The Tigers transferred Perez (orbital) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

With the team claiming Yilber Diaz off waivers from the Diamondbacks, Detroit needed to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Perez will miss a couple months at minimum after he sustained a left orbital fracture in pregame warmups June 16.

Meyers is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers.

Riding the bench for a fourth straight game, Meyers appears to have lost his grip on a regular role in the Houston outfield after putting together dismal .203/.261/.317 slash line over 134 plate appearances on the season. Since Meyers was last included in the lineup Monday, Taylor Trammell and Brice Matthews have picked up two starts apiece in center field.