MLB Player News

Rizzo (concussion) has been feeling better and showing improved reaction times, and he hit in a batting cage Friday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Rizzo landed on the injured list Aug. 3 due to post-concussion syndrome, and an initial timeline for a return was uncertain. Though it's still not clear when the first baseman may return to the field, he's at least confident that he will be back this season. Rizzo said Thursday that recent tests have shown that he's improving, explaining that "all signs are pointing towards quicker, faster, sharper [reaction times]." The veteran added that he hopes to be playing within the next few weeks, stating, "it's about getting back as fast as possible -- obviously as healthy as possible -- but no, shutting down, for me, is not an option, and it hasn't been discussed."

Casas was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees with an infected tooth, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The Red Sox have yet to announce a timeline for Casas' return, but if it's an issue that can be fixed with routine dental work, he's likely not looking at a long absence. Justin Turner will shift from designated hitter to first base in Casas' absence, with Adam Duvall entering the lineup as the DH.

Calhoun went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in a 4-1 win over the Tigers during the second game of Friday's doubleheader.

Neither team was able to produce much offense on the day -- the combined score across both games of the twin bill was 6-5 Guardians -- but Calhoun found a way to post solid numbers in the nightcap. With Josh Naylor (oblique) still lacking a target date for his return, Calhoun will continue to hold down a near-everyday role for Cleveland, and the 35-year-old is slashing .317/.378/.366 over his first 11 games with the club.

Cooper was removed from Friday's win over the Diamondbacks after jamming his wrist, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

It doesn't sound like a major issue, but it's possible Cooper won't be available to play during Saturday's doubleheader. That could lead to Matt Carpenter seeing some rare action in the field for the Padres.

O'Hearn went 2-for-5 with a triple, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 9-4 win over the Athletics.

Not known for his speed, O'Hearn showed off some surprising wheels in Friday's win. The triple was his first of the season, while the theft was his fourth, two of which have come in his last five games. He's hitting .279 (12-for-43) with five extra-base hits in August while continuing to see steady playing time between first base and the corner outfield positions. O'Hearn is at a .303/.341/.513 slash line with 10 home runs, 40 RBI, 31 runs scored and 16 doubles through 76 games.

Lowe went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss against Milwaukee.

Lowe's fourth-inning blast put the Rangers on the board, pulling them to within one at the time. Lowe has been a constant source of production all season, but has picked it up even more since the All-Star break, hitting .297 with six home runs and 20 RBI and 21 runs scored across 118 at-bats.

Santana went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's victory over Texas.

Santana's seventh inning blast put the Brewers in front to stay. In 18 games since being traded from the Pirates, Santana only has twelve hits in 74 at-bats for a .162 batting average, but five of those hits have left the yard. The imminent return of Rowdy Tellez (finger) could impact the veteran's playing time, but Santana figures to still be the primary option at first base with Tellez filling the DH spot.

Tellez (finger) will likely return during the Brewers' weekend series against Texas, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Tellez has already been ruled out for Friday's series opener against the Rangers, but a return to the Brewers' lineup seems imminent. Manager Craig Counsell previously noted that the team wanted Tellez's bat to heat up in Triple-A before activating him from the IL, and the slugger has gone 5-for-13 with a homer and five RBI across his last three games. Once he returns, Tellez will presumably take over as the primary DH with Carlos Santana, a superior defensive player, now manning first base.

Schanuel is playing first base and batting leadoff in his major-league debut Friday versus the Rays.

Schanuel will be thrust right to the top of the Angels' batting order just 40 days after being selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Florida Atlantic University. He was slashing .370/.510/.493 through his first 96 professional plate appearances this summer between the Arizona Complex League, Single-A Inland Empire and Double-A Rocket City. C.J. Cron (back) went on the injured list Friday, giving the 21-year-old Schanuel a prime opportunity to put a good foot forward at baseball's highest level.

The Angels placed Cron on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Aug. 16, with lower-back inflammation.

This back discomfort first popped up last weekend and Cron will now be sidelined until at least next Saturday. The 33-year-old first baseman has slashed just .217/.280/.283 with one home run in 14 games (50 plate appearances) since being acquired from the Rockies ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline.