MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Berti (groin) could begin a rehab assignment Sunday, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

Berti is nearly two weeks removed from suffering a left groin strain and is almost ready to test things out in game action. The utility player shouldn't need too many rehab games before rejoining the Yanks.

Senzel was scratched from Washington's lineup ahead of Thursday's game versus the Dodgers due to a stomach illness.

Ildemaro Vargas will cover third base instead and bat eighth while Senzel is under the weather. The 28-year-old has hit safely in three of his last four games, homering twice.

The Athletics recalled Hernaiz from Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

He's taking the roster spot vacated by Zack Gelof (oblique). Hernaiz will be a candidate for reps at second base in Gelof's absence and he can handle shortstop and third base, as well. It's unclear how high he'll be in the pecking order, however, after he managed just a .103/.156/.103 batting line before being sent down.

Muncy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.

With the Dodgers and Nationals concluding their series with a day game after a night game and with southpaw MacKenzie Gore on the bump for Washington, Muncy is one of three lefty-hitting regulars who will get the afternoon off. Muncy will be joined on the bench by Gavin Lux and James Outman.

Lipscomb isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Lipscomb will take a seat after going 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored during Wednesday's 11-2 loss. Joey Meneses will start at first base in his absence, while Jesse Winker serves as Washington's designated hitter.

Morel is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros.

The Cubs will hand Morel his first day off of the season while he's fallen into a slump at the dish of late; he's gone 4-for-45 (.089 average) and is getting on base at a .222 clip over his last 13 games. Morel still looks to be entrenched in an everyday role at third base, but Nick Madrigal will occupy the hot corner Thursday.

Urias (wrist) will start at third base and bat eighth in Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Urias will make his first start since he exited the second game of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Rockies when he was hit by a pitch on the right wrist. The Mariners faced right-handed starting pitchers in both of the ensuing two games, so Urias' absence from the lineup for those contests might have had more to do with his status as a short-side platoon player than because of the injury. Urias will face off against Rangers southpaw Andrew Heaney on Thursday.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Devers (knee) isn't comfortable enough yet to play third base but will likely return to the position Saturday versus the Cubs, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The good news is Devers is well enough to hit, as he'll be the club's designated hitter again Thursday after homering from the spot in his return to the lineup Wednesday. The Cubs are starting left-hander Shota Imanaga on Friday, so it's possible the lefty-hitting Devers will rest that day before returning to third base Saturday. With Devers (twice) and Tyler O'Neill (once) occupying the DH spot the last three days, Masataka Yoshida has been on the bench. However, it sounds like Yoshida should be back in there soon enough.

Hernaiz is a likely candidate for a promotion from Triple-A Las Vegas if Zack Gelof's oblique injury forces him to go on the injured list, MLB.com reports.

Gelof was held out of Wednesday's loss to the Yankees with what was originally described as abdominal soreness, and he was eventually diagnosed with a left oblique strain and labeled as a likely IL candidate. If that indeed comes to pass, it appears Hernaiz, who's hit .211 over his first six games with Las Vegas since his demotion last Thursday, would make a quick return to the big-league club. Hernaiz has experience at second base, third base and shortstop, and but he scuffled to a .103/.156/.103 slash line across his first 32 plate appearances to start the season before being sent down to the Aviators.

Hayes is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Hayes looks to be getting some routine maintenance for a day game after a night game. With Hayes on the bench, the Pirates will shift Jared Triolo over to third base Thursday and give Alika Williams a start at second base.