MLB Player News

Burger went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Mariners.

Burger got the scoring started with a second-inning homer. It was the 26th blast of the season for the first baseman, who extended an on-base streak to six contests. He's gone 6-for-18 with seven walks, three home runs, five RBI and eight runs scored during the streak.

Contreras (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Portland on Friday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Contreras took batting practice on the field before Tuesday's game against the Angels as the latest step in his recovery from a left hamstring strain. He'd been a candidate to return from the injured list for Friday's series opener against the Royals, but the Sox will instead have him play in a few tune-up games before adding him back to the active roster.

Torkelson is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Twins.

It's the third time over the last four games that Torkelson has been out of the lineup, and against right-handers he's sat out four of the past five. Across his last 70 plate appearances, Torkelson is just 8-for-62 (.129) with a 40 percent strikeout rate. Colt Keith is getting another start at first base, and he could remain the preferred option at the position versus right-handed pitching down the stretch.

Walker went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Phillies.

Walker opened the scoring in the second inning with a three-run, 440-foot blast off Andrew Painter, his 25th long ball this season. The homer was Walker's first in 11 games -- he'd gone just 5-for-34 with a .363 OPS across 10 contests coming into the day. Overall, the veteran first baseman is slashing .230/.305/.429 across 571 plate appearances this year with 80 RBI and 65 runs scored.

Torkelson is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

The 27-year-old will hit the bench Tuesday for the second time in Detroit's past three games. Torkelson has been struggling at the plate the last few weeks with a .133/.235/.283 slash line and 38.2 percent strikeout rate in his past 20 contests.

Contreras (hamstring) took batting practice on the field at Fenway Park on Tuesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Contreras is also expected to do some running on the field during Boston's series against the Angels that runs through Wednesday. It hasn't been determined yet whether Contreras needs a short rehab assignment before returning to the active roster. If he skips one, he could be activated as soon as Friday. Contreras has been out since late August with a left hamstring strain.

Mountcastle (foot/oblique) has resumed a hitting progression, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Mountcastle initially went down with a left foot fracture in mid-April, but it's an oblique strain he suffered in late July that's been the more recent cause of his continued absence. A return before the end of the month remains possible, but even if that happens, Mountcastle's role could be relatively limited.

Lowe entered Monday's game as a pinch hitter and hit a three-run home run in a 6-4 loss to the Orioles.

Lowe, who opened the game on the bench against a left-handed starter, reached for an Andrew Kittredge slider down in the zone in the ninth inning and sent it over the fence in right field. It was his fourth home run, along with 19 RBI, over 28 games since joining the Guardians at the trade deadline. Lowe has become Cleveland's primary starter against right-handed pitching and will continue in that role as the team competes for a berth in the postseason.

Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Monday that Contreras (hamstring) will resume running during the team's current series against the Angels and could be activated from the 10-day injured list as soon as Friday's series opener versus the Royals, Marcus Grunfeld of ElEmergente.com reports.

Tracy also added that Contreras could go out on a short rehab assignment before returning to the active roster, but he plans to speak with the first baseman about that possibility later this week. Contreras landed on the IL one week ago because of a left hamstring strain. Mickey Gasper has been filling in at first base for the Red Sox.

Lowe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Orioles.

The left-handed-hitting Lowe will hit the bench for the third time in four games while Baltimore sends southpaw Trevor Rogers to the bump in the series opener. David Fry will spell Lowe at first base and will bat fifth.