MLB Player News

Volpe went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two stolen bases in Tuesday's extra-innings loss to Cleveland.

Volpe notched one of two multi-hit efforts for the Yankees in the contest and reached base a third time on a walk. The shortstop took advantage of his trips to the basepaths with his fourth multi-steal performance of the campaign. Volpe has 22 steals on the season, two short of the total he tallied over 159 games as a rookie last year.

Manager Bruce Bochy said that Scherzer (shoulder) will make a rehab start with Double-A Frisco on Friday and is on track to return from the 15-day injured list during the Rangers' series versus the White Sox early next week, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

On Tuesday, Scherzer threw another bullpen session, which Bochy said went "really well." Provided he gets through Friday's rehab outing without any complications, the veteran right-hander should slot back into the Rangers rotation Wednesday in Chicago. Scherzer has been sidelined for the entirety of August due to right shoulder fatigue but has bounced back nicely since being administered a nerve injection.

Pressly (back) threw a bullpen session at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Pressly landed on the injured list over the weekend with a lower-back strain but is already moving through a throwing program. Astros manager Joe Espada said that Pressly probably won't require a rehab assignment, so the reliever would seem to have a shot to be ready for activation from the 15-day injured list Aug. 29 when he's first eligible.

Horwitz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Reds.

The Blue Jays launched five homers off Carson Spiers in the first five innings Tuesday, with Horwitz's blast being his seventh of the season. The 26-year-old has maintained an everyday role for Toronto while bouncing between first base, DH and occasionally second base, but Horwitz is slashing just .217/.304/.400 through 17 games in August with three homers, seven RBI and 11 runs.

Kirk went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Reds.

His third-inning shot off Carson Spiers was one of five Toronto homers during a 10-3 rout. Kirk has had a tough season, but he's shown signs of turning things around since assuming the starting job behind the plate after Danny Jansen was traded to Boston. Over his last 19 contests, Kirk is slashing .297/.382/.422 with two of his four homers on the year and 11 of his 35 RBI.

Jankowski will start in right field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

With Josh Smith receiving a day off, Jankowski will re-enter the Texas lineup for the first time since last Thursday. Jankowski has gone just 1-for-13 at the dish since the All-Star break, and he's put together a lowly .200/.259/.240 line over 162 plate appearances on the season. Even with the Rangers fading from the playoff picture heading into the final month of the season, Jankowski is unlikely to see a major spike in opportunities, given his status as a 32-year-old underperforming journeyman on an expiring contract.

Smith is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Smith will get a day off while he's managed a .198/.258/.285 batting line since the All-Star break. The Rangers will give Adolis Garcia a start in the designated-hitter spot, while Travis Jankowski will patrol right field.

The Astros optioned Martinez to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Martinez had been recalled this past weekend but didn't make an appearance during this stint in the majors. He's clearing out to make room on the roster for Justin Verlander (neck), who returns from the injured list to start versus the Red Sox.

The Astros activated Verlander (neck) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Verlander will rejoin the Houston rotation Wednesday after missing more than two months of action with a neck problem. The 41-year-old threw just 57 pitches in his second of two rehab starts, so he's not yet fully stretched out as he enters a matchup versus Boston. According to Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, manager Joe Espada said that he's expecting Verlander to toss around 75-to-80 pitches Wednesday, so the veteran right-hander could struggle to work deep enough into the start to qualify for a win. Verlander has collected a 3.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB across 57 innings for the Astros this season.

O'Neill is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

After making his return to the Red Sox on Saturday following a two-week absence due to a lower leg infection, O'Neill started each of the past four games but went just 2-for-15 with two walks against eight strikeouts. O'Neill's spot in Boston's everyday lineup still appears to be secure, but he'll get a chance to regroup Wednesday while the Red Sox close out their series in Houston. Rob Refsnyder will replace O'Neill in left field and will bat fifth.