MLB Player News

Davis is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Twins on Friday.

Davis will get a breather Friday while Endy Rodriguez starts behind home plate and bats seventh while catching pitches from Jared Jones. Since May 1, Davis has gone 5-for-47 (.106) with four home runs, seven RBI, five walks and five runs scored.

Griffin (forearm) is serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth against the Twins on Friday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Griffin has not been cleared to throw due to a right forearm flexor strain but has been given the green light to hit. Marcell Ozuna will see a dip in playing time while Griffin gets rep at DH, and Jared Triolo will see more starts at shortstop as well.

Gonzalez (knee) is starting at third base and batting out of the cleanup spot against the Twins on Friday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Gonzalez was removed from Thursday's game against the Cubs due to left knee discomfort, but he's been cleared to play in the first game of the Pirates' weekend home series. He's struggled at the plate as of late, having gone 2-for-22 (.091) with one RBI, two runs and seven strikeouts over his last six games.

Bart (foot) has been cleared to resume weight room activity and play light catch, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Per Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk, Bart is still "weeks away" from returning from the 10-day injured list, but the good news is that the 29-year-old catcher has progressed enough to take the next step in his recovery program. The Pirates should have a better sense of Bart's timeline to return as he continues to increase his baseball activities.

Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk told reporters Friday that Griffin is dealing with a muscle strain in his right forearm but has been cleared to serve as the team's designated hitter, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Griffin's forearm injury led to his absence from Thursday's lineup against the Cubs. The positive news is that the injury isn't severe enough for the 20-year-old shortstop to go on the injured list, but he has not been cleared to throw and will be restricted to hitting duties. As a result, Jared Triolo should see more time at shortstop, and Marcell Ozuna could see less playing time if the Pirates opt to use Griffin as the DH.

Polanco (Achilles) will play two more rehab games and could be activated from the 10-day injured list some time next week on the Mets' road trip, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.

Polanco has played one rehab game with Double-A Binghamton to this point, going 1-for-2 with a single and a strikeout. He's been out since mid-April with a right wrist contusion and left Achilles bursitis, and it's the latter injury that's lengthened his recovery. When he does return from the IL, Polanco will be used primarily at designated hitter.

Robert was recently administered a series of injections for his injured back, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.

Out since late April with a lumbar spine disc herniation, Robert has yet to resume baseball activities, but the hope is the injections will speed his recovery along. Robert is on the 60-day injured list and not eligible to return until late June. A timetable for his activation won't be available until he starts ramping up his activities and goes out on a rehab assignment. A.J. Ewing has taken over as the Mets' primary center fielder in Robert's stead.

The Marlins recalled Ekness from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday.

The move corresponds with the Marlins placing right-hander Eury Perez on the 15-day injured list due to a right gracilis strain. Ekness made his major-league debut out of the Marlins' bullpen in early May, and across six outings he's allowed one run on two hits and five walks while striking out five over 5.1 innings. He also collected his first major-league save May 10 against the Nationals.

Alvarez (knee) is going through full baseball activities and could be ready for a rehab assignment as soon as next week, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.

Alvarez is just over two weeks removed from surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee. He was given an eight-week timetable to return immediately following the operation, but the catcher is poised to beat that timeline by several weeks.

The Marlins placed Perez on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Thursday, due to a right gracilis strain.

Perez was forced out of Wednesday's start against the Blue Jays due to what was initially diagnosed as a right hamstring spasm. Additional tests have revealed a serious enough injury to warrant a stint on the IL for the 23-year-old right-hander, who is looking at about an eight-week recovery timeline, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. That means Perez is unlikely to be activated from the IL until after All-Star break. In a corresponding move, the Marlins recalled right-hander Josh Ekness from Triple-A Jacksonville.