MLB Player News

Barger is not in the Blue Jays' starting lineup against the Dodgers on Saturday.

Barger will begin Saturday's game on the bench, with Myles Straw in right field and Buddy Kennedy drawing the start at third base. Barger has logged two hits in three of his last four games and has gone 9-for-29 (.310) with two home runs and eight RBI in seven games since the beginning of August.

Loperfido (knee) is not in the Blue Jays' starting lineup against the Dodgers on Saturday.

It's the third game in a row that Loperfido will not be in the lineup as he continues to nurse a right knee contusion that he suffered against the Rockies on Tuesday. The Blue Jays will start Davis Schneider, Daulton Varsho and Myles Straw in the outfield from left to right.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Cole (elbow) could be close to throwing, Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News reports. "I think it's soon," Boone said, "but I don't have an announcement."

Cole also stated Friday that he is scheduled to begin throwing this month and even said he has a tentative date in mind, though he didn't share what that date is. The veteran hurler underwent Tommy John surgery with internal bracing in mid-March and isn't going to pitch in games this season, though if he is indeed able to resume throwing in the relatively near future, it would increase optimism about his ability to be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. At this point, however, it's up in the air whether Cole will have progressed enough by Opening Day 2026 to be on the mound for the Yankees.

Yarbrough (oblique) will face hitters either in a live bullpen session or in a minor-league rehab game Sunday, Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News reports.

Yarbrough landed on the injured list June 22 due to a right oblique strain. He was shut down from throwing until mid-July and has since been working his way back, advancing to bullpen sessions in late July and tossing his first live session this past Thursday. Manager Aaron Boone indicated Saturday that Yarbrough could throw in a minor-league game with Double-A Somerset on Sunday, but that it's more likely the lefty hurler will toss another live bullpen. In either case, Yarbrough is on track to be ready for activation in late August or early September.

Cruz (oblique) is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session with Double-A Somerset on Sunday, Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News reports.

Cruz has been on the injured list since June 30 due to a severe left oblique strain. He began throwing bullpen sessions in late July and has shown enough progress to advance to facing hitters. Since Cruz's absence has already lasted over a month, he'll likely need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he's ready to rejoin the Yankees. Nonetheless, a return before the end of August is feasible.

Perez (elbow) allowed one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out two across four innings in his rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

Perez made his second rehab start as he works his way back from the left flexor tendon strain that landed him on the injured list in mid-April. The veteran southpaw didn't allow a hit until the third inning, and he was able to escape a bases-loaded jam in the fourth after yielding a run on a balk. Perez will make at least one more rehab start at Triple-A before returning from the IL, likely at some point in the back half of August.

Narvaez (knee) is not in the Red Sox's starting lineup against the Padres on Saturday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Narvaez continues to get extended rest while working through knee soreness that has limited him to just one game over the past week. A stint on the injured list doesn't appear to be on the horizon, but manager Alex Cora said Saturday that while Narvaez can catch in an emergency, he "probably" won't be in Sunday's lineup, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Connor Wong will once again fill in behind home plate and bat ninth.

Alexander will start in Sunday's series finale against the Yankees, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Even with Cristian Javier (elbow) and other Houston starters nearing a return from the injured list, Alexander will get at least one more turn in the rotation. In five appearances (four starts) with the Astros this season, Alexander has a 2-1 record with a 3.16 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB across 25.2 innings.

Larnach (side) is not in the Twins' starting lineup against the Royals on Saturday.

Larnach will miss a third consecutive game while working through left side soreness that flared up before Wednesday's game against the Tigers. Carson McCusker will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth.

Naylor (shoulder) is starting at first base and batting out of the cleanup spot in Saturday's game against the Rays.

Naylor sat out of Friday's series opener due to left shoulder soreness that flared up during Thursday's game against the White Sox. The day off was the remedy Naylor needed, as he's back in action Saturday. He has slashed .265/.324/.426 with 10 steals, three home runs and seven RBI over 74 plate appearances since the All-Star break.