MLB Player News

Torres (ribs) is not in the Tigers' starting lineup against the Dodgers on Saturday.

Torres was removed in the sixth inning of Friday's extra-inning loss when he aggravated a rib injury after hitting a home run in the third frame. The injury doesn't appear to be severe enough for him to warrant a stint on the IL, but he'll sit out of Saturday's contest ahead of Monday's series opener against the Mariners. Colt Keith will start at the keystone and bat fifth against Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Giolito (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Friday and could begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester in the coming week, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Giolito opened the season on the 15-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain that he sustained in mid-March. He wasn't shut down from throwing, and it appears he's progressed enough in his program to be closing in on a rehab assignment. There's optimism that the 30-year-old right-hander will be able to return to the Red Sox's rotation in mid-April.

Urshela isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners.

Urshela is off to a 1-for-7 start through two games as an Athletic, and he'll get a day to rest Saturday while Luis Urias mans third base and bats seventh.

The Orioles acquired Poteet from the Cubs on Sunday in exchange for cash and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.

Poteet was DFA'd by Chicago on Thursday but will reclaim a 40-man roster spot upon joining the Orioles. The 30-year-old righty made five appearances (four starts) for the Yankees last season, during which he posted a 2.22 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 16:8 K:BB across 24.1 innings. He'll begin his tenure with the O's in the minors, but the number of injuries in Baltimore's pitching staff keeps the door open for Poteet to make a spot start down the line.

Scherzer was removed from his start Saturday against the Orioles due to right lat soreness, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Scherzer had been hoping to reach around 80 pitches during his first start of the season, but he was forced out of the game after just 45 pitches across three innings of two-run ball. Although the team attributed his removal to a lat issue, the veteran righty said after the game that "this is 100 percent related to the thumb," per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. Scherzer's thumb has been an issue since spring training, and he added that he was in "imminent danger" of doing more damage to it if he were to go back out for the fourth inning. Scherzer and the team will likely want to make sure his thumb and lat are no longer issues before he makes his next start, which could mean a trip to the injured list is coming.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday that Jung is dealing with neck spasms, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Jung was held out of the Rangers' lineup Saturday and Bochy said that the 27-year-old infielder will need a few days of rest for his neck to calm down while the team treats him, though it remains to be seen if he will end up spending time on the injured list. Josh Smith is set to cover third base Saturday and is likely to continue doing so until Jung returns.

Rafaela is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rangers, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

The Red Sox will give Rafaela a day to collect himself Saturday after starting the season 0-for-8 with an RBI and a pair of strikeouts. His absence will shift Jarren Duran to center field and put Kristian Campbell in left, opening up second base for David Hamilton.

Wong isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game versus Texas, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Wong is off to a 1-for-7 start two games into the new season, and he'll now receive a day to rest while Carlos Narvaez starts behind the plate and bats eighth.

Smith is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Smith started his big-league career 1-for-1 but now sits at 1-for-5 with two walks through his first two games. He'll take a seat for Saturday's series finale, opening up right field for Zach Dezenzo.

Meyers isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game versus the Mets, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Meyers will take a seat Saturday after going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Friday's loss. Chas McCormick will fill the open spot in center field and bat ninth.