MLB Player News

Abreu went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and two additional runs scored in Friday's 10-1 win over Texas.

It was a big night for hitters No. 2 through 4 in Boston's order. Ceddanne Rafaela, Abreu and Willson Contreras combined to go 9-for-13 with five doubles, three home runs and eight RBI in the win. Abreu entered the game with a .194 average and .535 OPS over his first eight games in June.

Okamoto went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's win over the Yankees.

The third baseman took Ryan Weathers deep in the first inning, ripping a slider down the left-field line into the upper deck at the Rogers Centre. Per TSN.ca, Okamoto is only the 19th player in the history of the stadium and just the 10th Blue Jay to reach the 500 level with a long ball, a feat last accomplished by a Toronto player when Josh Donaldson did it in 2017. Through 10 games to begin June, Okamoto is slashing .316/.341/.500 with two homers, five runs and seven RBI.

Walker struck out one in a scoreless inning during Friday's 5-1 loss to the Cubs.

Walker was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Friday and immediately made an appearance for San Francisco. The right-hander posted a 6.46 ERA and 1.89 WHIP in 15.1 innings before being optioned to Sacramento on May 10, though he was solid in his return to the big leagues. Walker threw 12 of his 16 pitches for strikes and will attempt to build on the performance in hopes of earning more high-leverage opportunities moving forward.

Ritchie gave up two hits and two walks over five scoreless relief innings in Friday's loss to the Mets. He struck out five.

The rookie right-hander finished out the game after Spencer Strider (forearm) was pulled following a leadoff walk to MJ Melendez in the bottom of the fourth inning while showing greatly diminished velocity. Strider has already been placed on the IL and is being sent for an MRI on Saturday, and Ritchie's impressive relief performance over 73 pitches (42 strikes) makes him the logical candidate to move into the rotation. Over 30.2 innings in the majors this season, Ritchie has a 3.82 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 26:18 K:BB.

Foscue entered Friday's game in the fifth inning after Evan Carter (oblique) was removed and went 0-for-2 in a 10-1 loss to Boston.

Foscue finished the game at second base while Nicky Lopez moved to the outfield. This was the first game action over the last four contests for Foscue, who has been limited to starting against left-handers only. With Josh Smith (glute/wrist/illness) six games and 26 plate appearances into a rehab assignment, Foscue's window in the majors may be closing soon. He's slashing .246/.306/.446 with three home runs, four doubles, nine RBI and eight runs scored over 72 plate appearances (26 games).

Olson went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Mets.

The first baseman took Cionel Perez deep in the fifth inning, Olson's third homer in the last three games and his 20th of the season -- tying him for fourth in MLB behind Yordan Alvarez (24), Kyle Schwarber (24) and Byron Buxton (21). Through nine games to begin June, Olson is batting .333 (12-for-36) with four home runs, six RBI and nine runs.

Benintendi went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run Friday against the Dodgers.

Benintendi got the scoring started for the White Sox with a home run in the first inning, his seventh of the season. Four of those long balls have come in his last 10 starts, during which he's hit .257 with eight RBI and nine runs scored. That stretch has also coincided with Munetaka Murakami's (hamstring) absence, with Benintendi rising up the White Sox's lineup to primarily hit third.

Manager Craig Counsell said that Boyd (shoulder/knee) played catch without issue Friday, and the Cubs are hoping that the left-hander can progress "rapidly," MLB.com reports.

After building up his pitch count to 80 in his second rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on June 6 while working his way back from a left knee meniscectomy, Boyd appeared poised to return from the 15-day injured list this weekend. However, after he reported shoulder soreness following a bullpen session Tuesday, the Cubs opted to delay his return. Boyd's ability to resume throwing just a few days later suggests the shoulder issue isn't a major concern, but he'll still need to complete another bullpen session without any discomfort before the Cubs sign off on activating him. The Cubs will next require a fifth starter Wednesday versus the Rockies at Wrigley Field, and Javier Assad would be in line to get the ball that day if Boyd isn't cleared to pitch by then.

The Cubs announced Wednesday that Wiggins (elbow) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions and facing hitters at the organization's complex in Arizona and could soon be ready to pitch in games, MLB.com reports.

One of the Cubs' top pitching prospects, Wiggins made just two starts for Triple-A Iowa this season before landing on the shelf April 15 due to right elbow inflammation. After a prolonged shutdown, Wiggins is ramping back up again and looks like he'll be ready to begin a rehab assignment in the lower levels of the minors in the near future.

Atlanta recalled Molina from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.

Molina will return to the majors to give Atlanta's bullpen some extra depth as Spencer Strider (elbow) moves to the injured list. Molina pitched two shutout innings during his lone appearance with the big club May 1 but still carries a 6.82 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across his MLB career.