MLB Player News

The Red Sox optioned Samaniego to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Samaniego has fared well with the Red Sox this season, posting a 2.66 ERA and 17:8 K:BB over 20.1 innings, but he's being sent out in order to clear a spot for the addition of Tommy Kahnle to the Boston bullpen. The left-handed Samaniego should get another chance with the big club later this summer.

Bassitt has flown back to Baltimore to have his injured back examined by team doctors, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.

Bassitt had to exit Wednesday's start against the Red Sox after just three innings due to lower-back tightness. He's tentatively scheduled to take the ball Monday versus the Mariners, but more will be known about Bassitt's status after he's looked at by the Orioles' medical personnel.

Benge went 1-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Mariners.

The rookie outfielder pulled off a successful double steal with Juan Soto in the fourth inning, with Benge scampering home when Jhonny Pereda tried to throw Soto out at second base. It was Benge's 10th stolen base of the season in 59 games, to go along with a .252/.317/.381 slash line, six homers, 24 RBI and 31 runs.

Dominguez (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Friday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Dominguez will play rehab games Friday and Sunday, and he's expected to need a few more next week before rejoining the active roster. That could point to a return as soon as the weekend of June 12-14, though the Yankees could wait until the start of their next homestand June 16 before activating Dominguez, who is coming back from a left shoulder AC joint sprain.

Crow is slated to start Thursday's game against the Giants at American Family Field.

Crow will be awarded a second straight turn through the rotation after he took a no-decision in a four-inning start versus the Astros last Friday following his promotion from Triple-A Nashville. The 25-year-old righty has made three starts thus over three separate stints with Milwaukee, pitching to a 3.14 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB in 14.1 innings.

Ewing went 3-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Mariners.

The rookie center fielder produced the first three-hit performance of his brief MLB career. Ewing is showing flashes of his talent, but he's still adjusting to big-league pitching -- over the last 10 games he's slashing .256/.275/.282 with just one extra-base hit, a double, and a 1:13 BB:K.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday that he will play the matchups in the ninth inning for the short term, but he still views Erceg as a long-term closer option, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

Quatraro made the statement prior to Alex Lange notching his first save of the season in Wednesday's win over the Reds. Erceg blew his sixth save of the season Tuesday and holds a 6.45 ERA with a 20:15 K:BB across 22.1 innings this season. While Erceg could still see save chances for the Royals in the immediate future, he will have to contend with Lange, Daniel Lynch and Matt Strahm. Carlos Estevez (shoulder) should also throw his hat back in the ring if he can get healthy.

Marsee went 1-for-1 with two walks, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

While he wasn't in the starting lineup against left-hander Andrew Alvarez, Marsee pinch hit for Esteury Ruiz in the sixth inning and took advantage of his opportunities. Marsee struggled to make a consistent impact at the plate to begin the season, but over his last 18 games he's slashing .263/.400/.404 with one home run, three of his career-high 15 steals, three RBI and 13 runs.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Stanton (calf) will not be activated from the 10-day injured list during the team's June 8-14 road trip, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Stanton took live batting practice Wednesday and will do so again Saturday as he ramps things up, but he's still more than a week away from rejoining the active roster. It's unclear whether the Yankees will ask him to play rehab games before returning, but Stanton is tracking toward activation around mid-June.

Ruiz went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

With southpaw Andrew Alvarez on the mound for Washington, Ruiz got the start in center field and took him deep in the second inning to open the scoring, but the 27-year-old was replaced by Jakob Marsee in the sixth inning once Alvarez was out of the game. Ruiz is batting just .191 (9-for-47) so far as a Marlin, but seven of his nine hits have gone for extra bases -- including three homers -- and he's stolen eight bags in nine attempts, giving him some appeal as a bargain DFS option on days when he's in the lineup.