MLB Player News

Barretto cleared intake protocols and was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old was acquired by the Angels from the A's on Friday, but he had yet to join his new team while going through the COVID-19 intake protocols. Barreto had only 10 plate appearances this season prior to the trade, and he's expected to fill a utility role with his new team.

Torres (hamstring) hopes to return to the Yankees on Friday, Anthony Reiber of Newsday reports.

Torres will report to the team's alternate training site Thursday and said he likely won't need much time to get ready before rejoining the team, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. The 23-year-old is well ahead of his return timeline, but the Yankees could potentially ease him back into action once he returns to prevent a long-term issue.

Chavis will serve as Boston's designated hitter and will bat sixth Wednesday against the Braves, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Chavis looked like he might have been in line to see his playing time tail off after Boston called up first-base prospect Bobby Dalbec on Sunday, but Monday's trade that sent Kevin Pillar to the Rockies seems to have benefited Chavis. J.D. Martinez (hand) will return from a two-game absence to start in left field, which could become his permanent more permanent home, given that the Red Sox lack any other established, healthy outfielders beyond Alex Verdugo and Jackie Bradley. If that's the case, Boston could rotate first base and the DH spot between Chavis and Dalbec, allowing both young bats to stick in the everyday lineup.

Lowe isn't in Wednesday's lineup against the Yankees.

Lowe has gone hitless with one walk and four strikeouts over the past two games, and he'll get a day off with lefty Jordan Montgomery on the mound for the Yankees on Wednesday. Hunter Renfroe will take over in right field.

Hoerner will start at second base and will bat ninth Wednesday against the Pirates.

Hoerner will stick in the lineup for the fourth time in five games, but Kris Bryant's (wrist) return from the injured list Tuesday could make it difficult for the 23-year-old to keep picking up regular starts. Assuming the Cubs lean on Bryant as their everyday third baseman, Hoerner would have to contend with Jason Kipnis and David Bote for reps at the keystone.

Manager Bob Melvin said that he thinks Semien (side) to avoid a trip to the injured list, though the shortstop isn't expected to be available for the Athletics' next game Friday versus the Padres, Shayna Rubin of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Before returning to action Friday, the Athletics will have had a full five days off after a member of their organization tested positive for COVID-19. The extra time off apparently hasn't allowed Semien to completing move past the injury, which has affected him most while swinging the bat, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The Athletics seem content to take a day-to-day approach with Semien heading into the weekend, but Chad Pinder and Vimael Machin could pick up work at shortstop in the short term.

Rodgers' shoulder strain isn't considered to be a major injury, and he's expected to be able to throw within the next few days, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Rodgers reportedly jammed his shoulder in a collision with Manny Machado while sliding into third base Saturday. Whether or not he'll be able to return when first eligible next Wednesday remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem likely that he'll wind up missing the rest of the year.

Frazier went 1-for-4 with a walk and two RBI in an 8-7 loss to the Cubs on Tuesday.

He's strung together a modest four-game hitting streak (5-for-14) with three walks. For the season, however, Frazier continues to struggle with a .210 batting average and six extra-base hits in 134 plate appearances. He moved down to eighth in the batting order, albeit against tough lefty Jon Lester, for just the second time in 2020. Frazier's name came up at the trade deadline and it wouldn't be surprising to see him traded in the offseason.

Andrus is being challenged by manager Chris Woodward to be more productive offensively, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Andrus hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Tuesday's win over the Astros, but prior to that at-bat, he'd hit three meek grounders, two of which ended in double plays. Andrus, who has the fifth lowest OPS (.680) over the last three seasons among hitters with at least 1,000 plate appearances, has been resistant to the statistical analysis the Rangers have offered and laments the increasing reliance on metrics in baseball as a whole. "The toughest thing for me is to not to believe my instincts during the game and to actually believe more in a piece of paper, or report," he said. "That's where the game is right now. I think that's what I've been a little hard-headed about." Woodward, a statistically-inclined manager, has given the 12-year veteran data that indicates opposing pitchers know his power zones, and they avoid them when pitching to him. As a result, Andrus has chased or taken defensive swings and experienced an offensive decline. Texas could decide to move on from Andrus and has candidates such as Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Anderson Tejeda ready to fill in.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Marte and rookie Daulton Varsho will share center field after the team traded Starling Marte, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Varsho got the start Tuesday, but Lovullo said Marte will move from second base to the outfield as well. He spent most of his breakout 2019 campaign as a center fielder. Tim Locastro will also be in the center-field mix.