MLB Player News

Polanco (back) is expected to resume participating in baseball activities Friday, and manager Rocco Baldelli hopes the second baseman will be activated from the 10-day injured list during the upcoming series in Cleveland, which begins Monday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The 28-year-old was eligible to return from the injured list Thursday, and it appears his activation is on the horizon. Polanco may not require a minor-league rehab assignment before being reinstated if his return to baseball activities goes well this weekend.

Lopez will sit Friday against Oakland, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Lopez finds himself on the bench for the third time in five games. All three absences, including Friday's game against Cole Irvin, have come against lefties, so it looks like he may be slipping into the strong side of a platoon. Whit Merrifield will be the second baseman Friday while Emmanuel Rivera starts at third.

Arroyo was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.

Arroyo will return to the team ahead of their three game series against the Guardians, rejoining the squad after being placed on the COVID-19 IL on June 15. The 27-year-old has struggled in the month of June, going 2-for-16 with a double, an RBI, two runs and two stolen bases over 16 at-bats in seven games. With the Red Sox next series being in Toronto, Arroyo may be asked to step into a larger role due to the unvaccinated status of some of his teammates.

Sosa went 0-for-1 with a walk Thursday against the Orioles.

Sosa entered in the sixth inning to make his major-league debut after Josh Harrison (elbow) exited the game. Sosa struck out on four pitches in his first at-bat, but he managed a nine-pitch walk in the following plate appearance. Prior to his promotion, Sosa hit .331/.384/.549 with 14 home runs across 289 plate appearances with Double-A Birmingham.

Arroyo (illness) is expected to be activated off the COVID-19 injured list Friday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Arroyo went 0-for-6 on his rehab assignment at Triple-A Worcester, serving as a designated hitter Tuesday then moving to shortstop Wednesday. With Enrique Hernandez slow to recover from a hip injury, there could be an opening for Arroyo in the outfield, particularly if Hernandez can't make it back in time for next week's series in Toronto. The Red Sox will be without Jarren Duran, who is unvaccinated against COVID-19, and short on outfielders for their road trip across the border.

Altuve went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and a hit by pitch in Thursday's 7-6 loss to the Yankees.

Altuve was plunked to start the game, and he would come around to score on an Alex Bregman home run. The second baseman added a single and another run in the third after a Yordan Alvarez blast. With six runs scored in his last four games, Altuve is doing a good job of setting the table atop the Astros' order. The 32-year-old is slashing .278/.354/.524 with 13 homers, 24 RBI, 37 runs scored, three stolen bases and 13 doubles in 54 contests this year.

Sosa isn't included in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.

Fresh off his promotion from Double-A Birmingham earlier Thursday, Sosa could be eased into the majors as a reserve option. The 22-year-old is an intriguing prospect who looks ready for a stiffer test after turning in a .933 OPS in 289 plate appearances at Birmingham, but he may have to settle for a utility role initially while manager Tony La Russa turns to a combination of Josh Harrison, Leury Garcia and Jake Burger to handle reps at second base and third base. Neither Harrison (.611 OPS) nor Garcia (.456 OPS) have been especially impressive, however, so Sosa may not have to wait long to get an opportunity.

Sosa's contract was selected from Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday.

Sosa has been in the midst of a breakout campaign in Birmingham to begin the season, as he slashed .331/.384/.549 with 14 home runs, 48 RBI and 47 runs over 62 games at the Double-A level. Although the 22-year-old has never played above Double-A, he'll be rewarded with a big-league promotion to provide infield depth for the White Sox after Danny Mendick (knee) was placed on the injured list Thursday.

Mendick was placed on the 10-day injured list with a torn right ACL on Thursday.

Mendick sustained a knee injury in a collision during Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, and he'll be forced to miss the remainder of the season after an MRI revealed a torn ACL. The 28-year-old will presumably undergo surgery and get moved to the 60-day IL at some point, while Lenyn Sosa's contract was selected from Double-A Birmingham to provide depth in the infield. It's not yet clear whether Mendick will be ready for the start of the 2023 regular season. He'll wrap up his fourth year in the majors with a .289/.343/.443 slash line to go with three home runs, 22 runs, 15 RBI and a stolen base across 106 plate appearances.

Kemp isn't starting Thursday's game against the Mariners.

Kemp has started mainly against right-handed pitchers this season, and he'll get a breather with southpaw Robbie Ray on the mound for Seattle on Thursday. Jonah Bride is shifting to second base while Sheldon Neuse starts at the hot corner.