MLB Player News

Mangum (groin) will move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mangum will presumably remain with Durham through the weekend before the Rays determine whether he's fit to return from the 10-day injured list. Before getting deactivated April 24 after suffering a left groin strain, Mangum had slashed an impressive .338/.384/.397 with eight steals across 73 plate appearances, though a .377 BABIP helped fuel the elevated batting average. The Rays have been rolling with Chandler Simpson, Kameron Misner and Josh Lowe as their primary outfield configuration from left to right of late, and it's unclear if the switch-hitting Mangum will be able to supplant any of the three for a regular role against right-handed pitching once he's activated. At the very least, Mangum should be a fixture in the lineup versus left-handed pitching.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that he has "no plans right now" to re-insert Williams into the team's closer role, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Williams was demoted from the closer role in late April but has gotten back on track lately, boasting a 9:1 K:BB over 5.1 scoreless innings across his last six appearances. However, Luke Weaver has notched six saves in seven chances for the Yankees and has yielded one run all season, so there's little incentive for Boone to shake up the back end of his bullpen right now. When asked Tuesday about regaining his closer job, Williams said "it doesn't matter right now."

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Wednesday that Laureano's left ankle injury is "very mild and minor at the moment," and the outfielder is expected back in action within the next few days, Sam Cohn of the Baltimore Sun reports.

Laureano tweaked the ankle during a loss to the Brewers on Tuesday, when his foot got caught in the grass as he made a sliding catch attempt. He'll be out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale in Milwaukee, but he avoided a serious injury and is considered day-to-day.

Gordon could be called up from Triple-A Sugar Land to rejoin the Houston rotation as soon as Sunday against the Mariners, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The Astros have a vacancy in their rotation Sunday, and Gordon and lefty Brandon Walter look to be the top two options to be called up from the minors to fill the void. Because both Gordon and Walter were optioned to Triple-A less than 15 days ago, neither of the two can be recalled unless a player is placed on the injured list in a corresponding move. Ronel Blanco (elbow) isn't slated to pitch this weekend and is getting further evaluated, so he would be the logical choice to land on the IL in order to open up a spot for Sunday's starter. Gordon has permitted six runs with a 10:2 K:BB over 9.2 frames in two starts for the Astros.

Twins athletic trainer Nick Paparesta said Wednesday that Buxton is considered further behind in his recovery than Carlos Correa as both players recover from concussions, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Buxton and Correa were placed on the 7-day injured list after the two were involved in an on-field collision in a May 15 game. The Twins haven't offered up a timeline for either player's return from the IL, but Correa is apparently trending toward being activated sooner than Buxton.

Twins head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta said Wednesday that Correa's concussion symptoms are improving, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Both Correa and Byron Buxton landed on the 7-day concussion injured list after the two were involved in an on-field collision May 15. Correa is farther along of the two in his recovery, although the Twins haven't offered up a timetable for his return. He is eligible for activation Friday.

Barger went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Tuesday's win over the Padres.

Starting at third base and batting seventh, Barger swiped his first bag of the year and only his third in 95 career big-league contests. The 25-year-old has never recorded more than nine steals in a season, even in the minors, but he's provided plenty of value of late with his bat. Over the last 12 games, Barger is slashing .317/.364/.561 with four doubles, two homers, six runs and seven RBI.

Morton will start for the Orioles on Friday in Boston, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Morton pitched well after taking over for an ineffective Kyle Gibson on Saturday versus the Nationals, striking out six over 4.1 innings of one-run ball. He's yielded only two runs with a 12:2 across his last 9.1 relief innings and will now get another shot in the Orioles rotation.

Yesavage struck out 10 and gave up two runs on two hits and three walks over four innings Tuesday for High-A Vancouver.

In his High-A debut. Yesavage racked up double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time in his last six starts, and on the season he sports a 65:11 K:BB in 37.1 innings between Vancouver and Single-A Dunedin. The 21-year-old right-hander threw 44 of 73 pitches for strikes Tuesday, and his three free passes may have been an anomaly -- he hadn't issued a walk in any of his final three starts for Dunedin. If Yesavage keeps dominating Northwest League hitters, another promotion to Double-A could be coming for the 2024 first-round pick before the end of the year.

Leiter retired all four batters he faced, striking out two, against Texas on Tuesday to earn a hold.

Leiter relieved starter Will Warren with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth inning and struck out Joc Pederson to escape the jam. The righty reliever returned for the seventh and retired the side in order. Leiter has not allowed a run in six straight outings, though this was his first hold during that span. He's been an important piece in New York's bullpen this season with a 2.75 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 28:5 K:BB over 19.2 frames across 22 games while notching six holds and a save.