MLB Player News

Westburg (finger) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers.

He'll miss a third straight start after aggravating his left index finger injury in Friday's game versus the Rays. Westburg was able to do some swinging Sunday, but interim manager Tony Mansolino said afterward that the infielder didn't "feel the best" and remains day-to-day, per Jake Rill of MLB.com. The Orioles seem optimistic that Westburg can avoid another stint on the 10-day injured list, but he'll have to show he's game-ready soon. Ramon Urias will once again start at third base for Baltimore on Monday.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Bregman (quadriceps) is "feeling great" and will have his status reassessed this weekend, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

The reassessment had been scheduled to take place at the six-week mark of Bregman's absence from a right quad strain. Cora indicated last week that Bregman would likely be sidelined through the All-Star break. However, the skipper added Monday that Bregman is "close to 100 percent," per Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, so the Red Sox could have some wiggle room with his timetable.

Dominguez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.

Despite owning a .276/.358/.428 slash line against right-handed pitching this season, the switch-hitting Dominguez has had to settle for a part-time role while the Yankees look to keep veterans Paul Goldschmidt and Giancarlo Stanton involved. Though Ben Rice will draw the start at first base while Goldschmidt hits the bench for Monday's matchup with righty Max Scherzer, Stanton will get the nod over Dominguez at designated hitter.

Wells is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.

The left-handed-hitting Wells will remain on the bench for the second time in as many days, with both of his absences coming against right-handed pitchers. After Ben Rice picked up the start behind the dish in Sunday's 12-5 win over the Athletics, J.C. Escarra will handle catching duties for the series opener in Toronto. Since matching a season high with five RBI in a June 10 win over the Royals, Wells is slashing just .159/.191/.205 over a stretch of 13 games.

Escarra (personal) will start at catcher and bat eighth Monday against the Blue Jays.

Though the Yankees never officially placed him on the paternity list, Escarra was away from the club for a few days to observe the birth of his child before he returned to the bench for Sunday's 12-5 win over the Athletics. Escarra caught the final two innings of that contest and will now pick up his 20th start of the season Monday while top backstop Austin Wells rests.

The Red Sox are expected to activate Hicks (toe) from the 15-day injured list prior to Monday's game against the Reds, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Hicks was on the IL with right toe inflammation when he was acquired from the Giants earlier this month, but he's been cleared to return after making a pair of rehab appearances at Triple-A Worcester. The hard-throwing right-hander will slot into a middle-relief role for now but could work his way into high-leverage spots if he pitches well.

Goldschmidt is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.

Ben Rice will get the nod at first base Monday while the Blue Jays send right-hander Max Scherzer to the hill. The Yankees aren't treating Goldschmidt as a pure platoon player, but his opportunities to play against right-handed pitching have been scaled back considerably following Giancarlo Stanton's return from the 60-day injured list June 16. Since that date, the Yankees have faced 11 right-handed starting pitchers, and Goldschmidt has been included in the lineup for six of those matchups. Both Goldschmidt (.273 wOBA) and Stanton (.299 wOBA) could be in danger of fading into part-time roles if the Yankees commit to open up steadier playing time for Rice (.379 wOBA) and Jasson Dominguez (.345 wOBA), both of whom have been far more effective against righties this season.

The Yankees designated Alexander for assignment Monday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Geoff Hartlieb, who was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Alexander was a waiver pickup of the Yankees earlier this month and will now go through the waivers process again.

The Yankees selected Hartlieb's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.

Hartlieb earned the promotion after collecting a 3.34 ERA and 38:10 K:BB over 35 innings with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The veteran reliever is likely to work in low-leverage spots.

The Yankees placed Cruz on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left oblique strain.

Cruz injured his oblique while warming up with a medicine ball in the weight room Sunday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. He'll undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the strain. Geoff Hartlieb was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take Cruz's spot in the bullpen.