MLB Player News

The Rangers activated Langford (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Langford is skipping a rehab assignment and will go directly back onto the Rangers' active roster after missing just shy of two weeks due to a strained left hamstring. He will serve as the designated hitter and bat second in Thursday's game against the Angels.

Kurtz (illness) will serve as the designated hitter and bat second during Thursday's game against the Tigers.

Kurtz was pulled from Wednesday's game in the second inning after he came down with an illness, but he's feeling well enough to return to the starting nine for Thursday's series finale. The 23-year-old has fallen into a minor cold spell at the plate recently, going 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts across his last four contests.

Wacha (5-7) took the loss Thursday against the Mets, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.

Wacha held the Mets to one run through his first four innings, but he'd unravel in the fifth, when New York would score five runs, including three with two outs. Wacha's performances have been up and down of late -- he's gone 1-5 with a 5.33 ERA in his last eight outings (49 innings). The right-hander figures to head into the All-Star break with a 3.77 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 96:34 K:BB across 19 starts (119.1 innings) this season.

The Tigers recalled Valencia from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Valencia has spent the entire season in Triple-A, slashing .267/.353/.486 with 16 homers, 49 RBI and 56 runs scored across 331 plate appearances. He'll now be called upon to provide the big club with depth behind the plate while Dillon Dingler manages a thumb injury. Valencia will be making his MLB debut whenever he gets into a game.

The Athletics list Ginn (illness) as their scheduled starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.

Ginn had to be lifted from Tuesday's outing versus the Tigers due to illness, but it seems he is recovered and ready to take the ball this weekend for his final start of the first half. The right-hander has authored a 3.10 ERA and 86:43 K:BB over 98.2 innings covering 17 starts and three relief appearances for the Athletics this season.

The White Sox are expected to activate Murakami (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's game against the Athletics, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

On the shelf since May 30 due to a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, Murakami appears poised to resume his outstanding rookie campaign this weekend after checking out well following two rehab games at Triple-A Charlotte. He's gone 2-for-7 with a double and a walk between the two contests and was able to play a full nine innings at first base Wednesday. Murakami's upcoming return from the IL is expected to most negatively affect fellow rookie Jacob Gonzalez, who had posted a .699 OPS in 29 games with the White Sox after stepping in for Murakami as the team's primary first baseman.

Teel is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

The White Sox will give Teel the afternoon off after he started behind the plate in each of the team's last three games. Drew Romo will handle catching duties in the series finale.

Cheng is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox.

The left-handed-hitting Cheng will hit the bench for the second time in the series, with both of his absences coming against lefty starters. Andruw Monasterio will receive the starting nod at shortstop, where he and Cheng appear likely to be used in a platoon until Trevor Story (sports hernia) or Marcelo Mayer (forearm) return from the injured list.

Narvaez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox.

Narvaez will be given a break for the day game after he caught all nine innings and went 1-for-3 with an RBI during the Red Sox's 5-0 win Wednesday night. Connor Wong will check in for Narvaez behind the dish and will bat ninth.

Contreras' suspension for his actions in the June 30 game against the Nationals has been reduced from seven games to five games, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Contreras will begin serving the suspension Thursday and will be reinstated before the second game of a doubleheader versus the Rays on July 17. The first baseman had already been slated to sit out Thursday's game with a left foot contusion, but the injury should no longer be an issue by the time Contreras is eligible for reinstatement. Brett Harris is starting at first base for the Red Sox on Thursday, and he could share the position with Romy Gonzalez while Contreras is unavailable.