MLB Player News

Pepiot did not factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 win against Arizona, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and one walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.

Making his return from a knee infection, the Tampa Bay righty generated 11 whiffs out of his 80 total pitches in his first start since July 14. After a shaky opening frame in which two unearned runs scored courtesy a Junior Caminero throwing error, Pepiot settled in, allowing just two singles across his remaining 4.1 innings. He sports a 3.69 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 99:32 K:BB across 92.2 innings this season. The 26-year-old lines up for a road start in Oakland next week.

Rutschman (back) has been scratched from Friday's lineup against the Red Sox.

Rutschman was a late scratch due to low back discomfort, per Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. James McCann will start behind the plate and bat ninth.

Rocchio is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.

Rocchio will begin Friday's game in the dugout after going 1-for-7 with an RBI over his last two outings. Daniel Schneemann will start at shortstop and bat eight against Milwaukee right-hander Aaron Civale.

Thomas is not in the starting lineup for Friday's contest against Milwaukee.

Jhonkensy Noel will start in right field and bat seventh against Brewers right-hander Aaron Civale. Thomas has slashed .104/.204/.146 with one stolen base and a 38.9 percent strikeout rate across 53 plate appearances since being acquired by the Guardians in late July.

Rodriguez allowed four runs on four hits and two walks over five innings in a no-decision Friday against the Cubs. He struck out five.

All four runs charged to Rodriguez came via the long ball. He allowed a two-run shot to Cody Bellinger in the opening inning before Pete Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya added solo homers in the fifth. The Blue Jays would come back in the ninth to tie the game, sparing Rodriguez a loss, but he still hasn't recorded a win since July 6. However, the right-hander had been pitching well coming into Friday's outing, allowing just one run in his previous two starts (10.1 innings). Overall, Rodriguez is 1-5 on the year with a 3.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 57:27 K:BB across 55 innings. He's currently slated for a home matchup with the Reds in his next start.

Drury is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta, per MLB.com.

Drury will sit for a second straight game. He's struggled at the plate since the All-Star break, slashing .127/.260/.143 with four RBI across 73 plate appearances. Michael Stefanic will start at second base and bat ninth against Atlanta right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach.

Scherzer (shoulder) threw 25 pitches in his bullpen session Friday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Scherzer noted afterwards that he's aiming to throw 40 pitches in his next session Sunday. The 40-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 2 due to right arm fatigue, and he received a nerve injection in his throwing shoulder two weeks later. Scherzer's timeline to return to the Rangers' rotation should become clearer following Sunday's throwing session.

O'Neill (illness) will be activated from the 10-day injured list Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora had indicated previously that it was unlikely O'Neill would be available for a weekend series in Baltimore, but the outfielder will return a little ahead of schedule. He hasn't played since Aug. 2 due to a leg infection.

Larnach is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Rangers.

The Twins are facing a third straight lefty in Andrew Heaney and Larnach has been on the bench for the last two of them. Matt Wallner is in left field and Royce Lewis will be the team's designated hitter.

Bregman said Friday he slept on his elbow wrong and hopes to miss only "a few days" after tests showed no ligament damage, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Bregman was kept out of the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox with right elbow inflammation, giving fantasy managers quite the scare in the closing weeks of the fantasy season. The third baseman put to rest any worries of a long-term absence when he spoke to the media Friday. Bregman is expected to miss only a few games, giving the inflammation in his elbow time to subside. The 30-year-old is slashing .261/.318/.445 with 19 home runs in 509 plate appearances on the season.