MLB Player News

The Astros activated Altuve (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Altuve last played May 16 and didn't require a minor-league rehab assignment after suffering a Grade 2 left oblique strain last month. In 42 games this season, Altuve is slashing .245/.326/.380 with four home runs, 12 RBI, 27 runs scored, one stolen base and a 19:35 BB:K across 185 trips to the plate. His .706 OPS is the lowest it's been since the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

The Cardinals activated Nootbaar (heels) from the 60-day injured list Friday.

Noobaar is ready to make his season debut after recovering from offseason surgery to correct deformities in both heels. He looked good during a 12-game rehab stint, slashing .257/.409/.543 with three home runs and a 9:6 BB:K. The Cardinals will likely mix in some extra off days initially so they don't overload Nootbaar, but he's poised to be the team's everyday left fielder. Nootbaar is batting leadoff in Friday's game versus the Reds.

The Rangers activated Langford (forearm) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Langford was diagnosed with a Grade 1 flexor strain in his forearm in late April and slashed .200/.467/.500 with one homer, two RBI, four runs scored, one stolen base and a 5:4 BB:K across 15 plate appearances on his rehab assignment. In 20 games at the big-league level this season, Langford has a disappointing .636 OPS with just one homer and four RBI in 84 trips to the plate.

The Red Sox optioned Bello to Triple-A Worcester on Friday.

The move opens up a spot on the 26-man roster for trade pickup Joe La Sorsa, who was acquired from the Pirates earlier in the week. Bello has been hammered for a 6.34 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and an American League-high 43 earned runs across 61 innings this season. He'll try to figure things out in the minors.

Karros is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.

Karros started at third base each of the previous four contests but will take a seat in Friday's series opener. Willi Castro will man the hot corner for the Rockies.

The Red Sox transferred Crochet (lat) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Boston needed the 40-man roster spot for Joe La Sorsa, and Crochet is already 40-plus days into his stay on the injured list. The move shouldn't change his outlook after he experienced a setback last week and was diagnosed with a low-grade lat strain. Crochet will be able to resume throwing once he's asymptomatic. He'll then need to build his arm back up, so Crochet could be looking at an absence into July.

Mayer is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

With lefty Ryan Weathers on the mound for New York, Mayer is getting the night off from the starting nine, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa is making the start at shortstop and batting sixth. Mayer is slashing an underwhelming .222/.283/.296 with two homers, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored, three stolen bases and a 12:32 BB:K across 181 plate appearances this season.

Jimenez is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Rays.

Jimenez had started two of the last three games versus right-handed pitching, but he'll take a seat in this one as the Rays send righty Drew Rasmussen to the bump. It will be Javier Sanoja handling third base in the series opener.

Caballero is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox.

Even with Aaron Judge (ribs) remaining sidelined and placed on the injured list Friday, Caballero will come off the bench for Friday's series opener. Anthony Volpe is starting at shortstop and batting seventh, while Spencer Jones was recalled from Triple-A and will play right field and hit sixth against right-hander Sonny Gray. Caballero has just a .669 OPS across 37 trips to the plate since returning from the injured list May 22.

Norby is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.

Norby is in a 3-for-34 slump at the plate, so he will get a day to regroup. Kyle Stowers will cover first base for the Marlins, and Esteury Ruiz is getting the call in left field.