MLB Player News

The Mariners activated Mastrobuoni (calf) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Mastrobuoni is finally ready for his season debut with the big club after recovering from a right calf strain he suffered while playing for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic. He's starting at second base and batting eighth for the Mariners in Baltimore on Wednesday.

Alexander will start at third base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

Since going hitless in six at-bats during a doubleheader with the Tigers on May 24, Alexander has caught fire at the plate, slashing .444/.500/.722 with two home runs, one stolen base, 12 RBI and seven runs over a stretch of 12 contests. Alexander doesn't have a regular home at any one position, but his ability to play all over the infield and outfield should afford him fairly stable playing time so long as he's wielding a hot bat. He'll be making his fourth start in five games Wednesday, this time filling in at the hot corner for a resting Coby Mayo.

Griffin (elbow) did some flat-ground throwing from out to 90 feet Wednesday at about 75 percent intensity, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Griffin threw for the first time since he landed on the 10-day injured list May 31 due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. He also took part in fielding drills without throwing, which is something the rookie has done since first going on the IL. Griffin remains without a timeline to rejoin the Pirates' active roster, but more clarity on that front should become available as he continues to ramp up his throwing.

Emerson (back) will remain out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, but he took part in a workout earlier in the day and is optimistic that he'll avoid a stint on the injured list, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Though he'll be on the bench for a third straight game while he contends with back spasms, Emerson reported improvement with his condition after taking some swings in the batting cage. Since receiving a promotion from Triple-A Tacoma on May 17, the 20-year-old infielder has cobbled together a .242/.319/.548 slash line with four home runs, 10 RBI and nine runs in 19 games.

Diaz went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 7-5 win over Boston.

Diaz turned in his seventh game of the season with at least three hits Wednesday. The 34-year-old designated hitter is raking of late, hitting safely in seven consecutive outings while collecting eight RBI during that stretch. For the year, Diaz is slashing a potent .331/.404/.536 with 12 home runs, 11 doubles and 46 RBI over 272 plate appearances.

The Blue Jays reinstated Scherzer (forearm/ankle) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Phillies in Toronto.

Scherzer will take the hill for Toronto for the first time since April 24 after he was shelved more than six weeks due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation. The veteran hurler was cleared to return to the Toronto rotation after completing a pair of rehab starts with Triple-A Buffalo. He built up to 3.2 innings and 73 pitches in his final rehab appearance last week, so Scherzer should be operating with only a minor workload restriction Wednesday.

Gimenez is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Phillies.

Gimenez was an everyday player early on in the season, but the left-handed hitter has been out of the lineup against against most southpaws since late April. Ernie Clement will slide over to shortstop for the Blue Jays, and Charles McAdoo will enter the lineup at second base.

Varsho (wrist) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Phillies.

Varsho will be held out of the lineup for a fifth straight game, though his absence may have more to do with the matchup versus a lefty starter (Jesus Luzardo) than any major concern about his left wrist injury. After an MRI on his wrist returned negative Tuesday, Varsho was deployed off the bench as a pinch runner later that night and stole a base and scored a run in the Blue Jays' 3-2 win. He should be available off the bench once again Wednesday and could be ready to rejoin the lineup Friday, when the Blue Jays open a three-game series versus the Yankees.

Montgomery (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

The White Sox will keep Montgomery on the bench for a second straight night while he manages a tight back. Montgomery is being viewed as day-to-day, and at this point, the White Sox haven't indicated that he's at major risk of landing on the injured list. His continued absence from the lineup will open up another start at shortstop for Luisangel Acuna.

Isbel (foot) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

The left-handed-hitting Isbel had to depart Tuesday's contest because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot, though there's a good chance he would not have started Wednesday even if he were healthy, as southpaw MacKenzie Gore is on the bump for the Rangers. Lane Thomas will patrol center field for Kansas City.