MLB Player News

Jeffers isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals.

Jeffers has slashed .391/.481/.609 with a homer, two RBI and four runs scored during his six-game hitting streak, but he'll head to the bench for Saturday's contest while Christian Vazquez starts behind the dish.

Isbel was scratched from the lineup ahead of Saturday's game against Minnesota with an illness.

While Isbel takes the day off to recover, Drew Waters will move to center field, opening up right field for Mark Canha.

DeLuca (shoulder) began a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

A strained right shoulder sent DeLuca to the injured list April 8, and a late-April setback delayed his recovery. He's now been cleared to return to a competitive environment and will likely require a rehab assignment that extends into June.

Laureano (ankle) isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Boston, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Laureano hasn't played since tweaking his left ankle Tuesday. He's expected to return to action soon and may still play during the nightcap, but it will be Heston Kjerstad starting in right field to begin Saturday's festivities.

Bregman (quad) is scheduled to undergo imaging Saturday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Bregman was removed from Friday's game due to right quad tightness and is not in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Nick Sogard is starting at third base in the afternoon game.

Sogard will start at third base in the afternoon game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Sogard steps in for Alex Bregman, who was removed from Friday's contest with right quad tightness. It's unclear if Bregman could be available for the second game of the doubleheader, or if manager Alex Cora will make do with Sogard or another body.

Newcomb allowed an earned run on one hit and two walks over two innings of relief Wednesday in the Red Sox's 5-1 loss to the Mets.

Newcomb claimed a spot in the Boston rotation coming out of spring training but has been working exclusively out of the bullpen since late April after turning in a 4.43 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 27:11 K:BB in 22.1 innings over his five starts. His results over the past month as a reliever have been only marginally better (3.06 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB in 17.2 innings over six appearances), but Newcomb could nonetheless find himself in the mix for a spot start or bulk-relief appearance in the near future. As a result of postponements Thursday and Friday, the Red Sox will begin a stretch of six games in five days Saturday and will need to break in a temporary sixth starter at some point.

DeGrom's average arm angle in 2025 is at 30 degrees, the lowest its been in five years since Statcast began tracking arm angles, David Adler of MLB.com reports.

The lower arm angle appears to be working for deGrom, who is delivering results similar to what he did during his Cy Young seasons of 2018 and 2019. "When [my arm angle] climbs," deGrom said this week, "I noticed I got a little bit more sore. So I was just trying to do what's best for health. And now I feel like with the slot that I'm at right now, I've been able to recover really well in between." Over his last three starts, the right-hander struck out 10 over five innings against the Tigers, shut out the Astros through eight frames and then held the Yankees in check over seven innings.

Biggio isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Twins.

Biggio will take a seat on the bench to begin Saturday's contest after going 1-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's series opener. Salvador Perez will serve as the Royals' DH instead, while Freddy Fermin starts behind the plate.

Scherzer (thumb/back) is set to throw bullpen sessions Saturday and Monday before accompanying the Blue Jays for a road series next week against the Rangers, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The veteran righty is still a long way from coming off the injured list, but if his bullpen sessions go well, Scherzer could face live batters while with the team next week. Until he's able to build up and test his thumb past around 50 pitches, which was the point at which it began to bother him earlier this season, there won't be a clear timeline for his return, however.