MLB Player News

The Angels designated Anderson for assignment Friday.

It's the second time this season that Anderson has been DFA'd by the Angels, with the first instance taking place in late April. He proceeded to ink a minor-league contract to return to the Angels and his contract was selected by the big club Wednesday, but he is being booted off the big club's 40-man roster again. The move corresponds with Los Angeles selecting Samy Natera's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake.

The Angels selected Natera's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.

Natera has pitched well out of the bullpen in Triple-A, where he has a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 44:18 K:BB across 30 innings. He'll now get a shot with the Angels, and Natera's first call to the mound will officially be his major-league debut. The move corresponds with the Angels designating right-hander Shaun Anderson for assignment.

Kremer (quadriceps) threw a live bullpen session earlier in the week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz noted Friday that Kremer has been progressing well in his recovery from a right quadriceps strain that landed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list in late April. He was transferred to the 60-day IL last Friday, and depending on when he embarks on a rehab assignment, Kremer could be back with the big club in mid-to-late June. Prior to his injury, Kremer had a 4.09 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 11 innings.

Jansen is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Guardians on Friday.

Jansen will be on the bench for the start of Friday's contest while Kyle Higashioka starts behind home plate and bats eighth while catching pitches from Kumar Rocker. Jansen has gone 7-for-56 (.125) with one steal, two home runs and five RBI since May 1.

Carter is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Guardians on Friday.

Carter will take a seat for Friday's series opener after going 1-for-9 with two runs and five strikeouts in his three outings since returning from a two-game absence due to a left foot injury. Wyatt Langford, Michael Helman and Brandon Nimmo will start in the outfield from left to right.

Bassitt (back) is travelling to rejoin the Orioles in Toronto on Friday and could make his next start Monday against the Mariners, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bassitt was pulled from his last start Thursday against the Red Sox due to lower-back tightness. He was initially held back in Baltimore to have his injury examined, but it looks like the veteran right-hander will not miss a start in the rotation, barring any setbacks. Over his last five starts, Bassitt has a 4.44 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB across 24.1 innings.

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Friday that the team is weighing its options on whether Brown (shoulder) will need one more rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brown made his third rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land, when he tossed 57 pitches (38 strikes) and allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out four across 4.1 innings. Espada relayed that he felt good about Brown's latest rehab outing, and a decision about whether the 27-year-old right-hander will make his next start in the majors should be made within the next couple of days. Brown is nearly fully recovered from a Grade 2 right shoulder strain that was severe enough for him to be placed on the IL in early April.

Whitlock (knee) will embark on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock is ready to take the next step in his recovery from left knee inflammation that led to him being placed on the 15-day injured list in late May. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy relayed that how Whitlock's knee reacts following Saturday's Triple-A game will determine whether the right-hander will need just one rehab outing before being activated from the IL.

Manager John Schneider said Friday that Cease (hamstring) is "very likely" to rejoin the Blue Jays' rotation next week, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Cease threw 75 pitches across four innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday and came out of it feeling good. He appears likely to make the start for Toronto on Tuesday at home against the Phillies. The right-hander last pitched for the Blue Jays on May 24 and owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 92:26 K:BB across 62 innings this season.

Martinez is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Rangers.

With Martinez getting the night off from the starting nine, Daniel Schneemann is making the start in center field, and Kyle Manzardo is at designated hitter with Rhys Hoskins manning first base. Over his last 13 games, Martinez is hitting just .140 with a .360 OPS across 51 plate appearances.