MLB Player News

Jimenez (elbow) is starting Thursday against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Jimenez didn't play Wednesday after he was hit in the elbow by a pitch Tuesday, but he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth during Thursday's series finale in Baltimore. The 25-year-old has hit .350 with a home run, three doubles, six runs and six RBI over his last 12 games.

Canha is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's matchup with the Rockies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Canha will get a day off after he went 5-for-14 with two homers, five RBI and three runs scored while starting the last four games. Tyler Naquin will take over in left field and bat seventh in the series opener.

The Phillies could activate Harper (thumb) from the 60-day injured list Thursday or Friday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

When Harper was cleared to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the expectation was that he would remain in the minors through the weekend while working to regain his timing at the plate following a two-month layoff from game action. However, he's looked more than ready to rejoin the Phillies based on how he's performed in his first two games at Lehigh Valley, as he's produced four extra-base hits (two home runs and two doubles) while striking out just once in 10 plate appearances. Since the Phillies have already seemed to rule out the possibility of Harper playing the outfield this season after he recently ended his throwing program when he experienced soreness in his sprained right elbow, the 29-year-old likely won't get much benefit from playing full games in the minors now that he's seemingly already dialed in at the plate. His potential return in the next day or two would provide a major lift for a Phillies squad that currently has a hold on one of the National League's three available wild-card spots.

Winker went 2-for-3 with a walk in a loss to the Nationals on Wednesday.

Winker produced the only multi-hit effort of the afternoon for the Mariners, his third such tally of August. The veteran outfielder has shown some life at the plate over the last week-plus of what has been a lackluster season, putting together a .269/.375/.500 slash line that includes two home runs, six RBI and matching 15.6 percent walk and strikeout rates across the last eight games.

The Angels selected Ford's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, and he'll start at first base and bat cleanup in the Los Angeles' series finale with the Rays, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Infielder Phil Gosselin was designated for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for Ford, who joined the Angels on a minor-league deal last week following his release from Atlanta. Over 369 career plate appearances in the majors, Ford owns a .192/.304/.391 slash line with 17 home runs. He'll step into the lineup for Jared Walsh, who is on the bench Thursday and could be in danger of losing playing time to Ford in light of prolonged slide at the plate.

Choi is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Angels, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

With left-hander Patrick Sandoval on the mound Thursday, Choi will ride the pine for the fifth time in six games. Harold Ramirez will shift to first base while Jose Siri enters the lineup in center field after some shuffling versus Los Angeles.

Ramirez went 1-for-5 with a double, two RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-innings victory over the Angels.

Ramirez went hitless in his first four at-bats but got it done when it mattered most, lacing a double in the 11th to score Jose Siri and tie the game before coming around to score himself on a throwing error by Jared Walsh. With Wednesday's two-bagger, the outfielder is now hitting .343 since returning from a thumb injury on Aug. 16 and has not yet lost playing time since Manuel Margot's return to play. Expect manager Kevin Cash to continue riding Ramirez's hot hand.

Morel isn't starting Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Morel is resting after he hit .300 with a homer, a double, three runs and two RBI over the last seven games. Rafael Ortega will start in center field and bat sixth.

Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Tuesday that Stanton (Achilles) remains on track to return from the 10-day injured list Thursday in Oakland, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

While serving as a designated hitter and playing back-to-back rehab games at Double-A Somerset last weekend, Stanton went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts, but he didn't experience any discomfort in his left Achilles' tendon. Stanton rejoined the Yankees and took live batting practice Tuesday against rehabbing pitcher Luis Severino (lat), with the slugger apparently coming out of that workout feeling fine in what represented the final test of his health. Once Stanton is reinstated from the IL on Thursday, the Yankees are expected to limit Stanton's exposure to the outfield, at least initially, but he should handle DH duties on a near-everyday basis. He was hitting .228 with 24 home runs and 61 RBI through 80 games before landing on the IL on July 26.

Ford signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Aug. 16 and has gone 5-for-23 over his first six games at Triple-A Salt Lake.

The Angels are Ford's fourth organization of the season, after he began the year with the Mariners before being moved to San Francisco, back to Seattle and then to Atlanta. He cleared waivers when Atlanta designated him for assignment earlier this month, and he was later granted his release to pursue work elsewhere. Ford quickly found a home with the Angels, who will likely be able to present him with a clearer path to playing time if he were to reach the big leagues later this season. Shohei Ohtani is entrenched as the Angels' designated hitter, but Ford could be an option at first base if the team elects to demote or bench Jared Walsh, who is slashing .157/.235/.269 since the All-Star break.