MLB Player News

Higashioka (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Higashioka has been out since late July with a right flexor strain. He is not expected to be available to catch in the final weeks of the regular season, but Higashioka could be available as a bench bat against left-handed pitching.

The Astros recalled King from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

King was a weapon out of the Astros' bullpen the previous two seasons, but he's been up and down between the majors and minors a couple times this year, logging a a 4.75 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 44:19 K:BB across 53 innings for the big club. The southpaw has held the opposition scoreless in his last four outings with Sugar Land.

The Astros placed Okert on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right hamstring strain, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It's unclear when Okert was hurt, but he hasn't pitched since Monday. He's been dynamite out of the Houston bullpen this season, logging a 2.13 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 68:14 K:BB over 67.2 innings. Bryan King will absorb Okert's spot on the roster and in the bullpen.

Lowe (neck) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game in Pittsburgh.

Lowe had to be scratched from the Angels' last lineup Wednesday versus the Yankees with neck stiffness, and he'll remain out even after the team off day Thursday. Wade Meckler will shift over to right field, and Jose Siri will handle left field.

Rafaela (quadriceps) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles, Chris Henrique of BostonSportsJournal.com reports.

It's the second consecutive absence for Rafaela after he exited Wednesday's game against the Mariners due to quad tightness. There's been no suggestion yet the 25-year-old will need an IL stint, however. Eli White is picking up a second straight start in center field for Boston.

Lagrange (shoulder) is traveling back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and is slated to throw a live batting practice session, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

It will be Lagrange's first time facing hitters since he was diagnosed with a right shoulder capsular sprain in early July. If live BP goes well, Lagrange will be activated from the 7-day injured list. The 23-year-old is a long shot to be called up to the majors this season, but if he's able to enter the offseason seemingly healthy it would be a positive development for him and the Yankees.

The Mariners recalled Taylor from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

It's the first stint in the majors this season for Taylor, who holds a 4.99 ERA and 60:35 K:BB over 52.1 innings with Tacoma. He's grabbing the roster spot vacated by Hoby Milner (personal) and will likely be around only until Milner returns from the family medical emergency list.

The Mariners placed Milner on the family medical emergency list Friday.

By rule, Milner will remain on the list for 3-to-7 days. He's been replaced on the active roster by Troy Taylor.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said earlier this week that Fried would be piggybacked by Will Warren during Friday's game in San Diego, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Assuming Boone's plan hasn't changed since he first mentioned the piggyback plan Tuesday, Fried will operate with a restricted workload Friday that could make it difficult for him to hit the five innings required to qualify for a win. After missing time with a left elbow bone bruise, Fried returned from the 15-day injured list last Saturday and started the second game of a doubleheader versus the Red Sox, giving up one run while striking out four batters over 3.2 innings and 63 pitches.

Urquidy gave up one hit over a scoreless inning of relief in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Astros.

After the White Sox recalled him from Triple-A Charlotte on Aug. 14, Urquidy had been deployed as either a starter or bulk reliever in each of his four appearances, turning in a 4.58 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB in 17.2 innings. With Davis Martin returning from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, however, Urquidy looks set to work in a traditional relief role. He'll likely be used primarily in lower-leverage spots much like he was Thursday, when he came on to pitch the eighth inning while the White Sox trailed by four runs.