MLB Player News

The Angels activated Ward from the paternity list Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ward missed this week's series in New York against the Yankees while tending to more important matters, but he's back for the weekend set versus the Nationals. The 30-year-old is sporting a .704 OPS with 16 home runs on the season.

Mountcastle is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Rays, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

It's a regular day off for Mountcastle, who currently possesses a modest five-game hitting streak. Ryan O'Hearn will handle first base duties for the Orioles.

Rutschman is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

It's a routine day off for Rutschman, who was recently demoted from second to fifth in the Orioles' batting order. He's slashed just .162/.276/.263 since the beginning of July. James McCann will do the catching for Zach Eflin.

Mayo is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest in Tampa Bay, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

It marks the third time in four games that Mayo has been out of the Orioles' starting lineup. The rookie is 0-for-13 with eight strikeouts to begin his major-league career, and it appears he could now be behind Ramon Urias in the pecking order at third base.

Nevin (migraine) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.

Nevin was scratched from Wednesday's game against the White Sox due to a migraine. After Thursday's team off day, he remains out of the starting nine. Considering Nevin had started in merely one of the Athletics' previous six games, his absence from the lineup perhaps isn't related to Wednesday's migraine.

Holliday will start at second base and bat sixth in Friday's game at Tampa Bay, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

It's the highest he's batted in his brief major-league career. Holliday has earned a move up in the Orioles' batting order by going 9-for-28 with one double, four home runs and 11 RBI in eight games since being recalled in late July.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Friday that Paddack (forearm) could begin a throwing program soon, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Paddack has been out since July 14 due to a right forearm strain. It's going to take him a little while to get built back up, so a return before the end of August doesn't seem likely. However, Falvey expressed optimism that Paddack would be able to rejoin the Twins' rotation before the end of the season.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Friday that Matthews is "certainly a name we're talking about" when considering options for the major-league rotation, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The Twins have lost Joe Ryan to a Grade 2 right teres major strain, and Chris Paddack (forearm) isn't expected back any time soon. Louie Varland is probably ahead of Matthews in the pecking order for the fifth spot in the Twins' rotation right now, but the club will need a spot starter Tuesday versus the Royals and Matthews looks like a possibility to take the ball that day. The 24-year-old began the season at High-A Cedar Rapids but is now at Triple-A St. Paul, having collecting a 2.60 ERA and 114:7 K:BB over 97 innings covering three stops.

Hamilton (lat) came out of his bullpen session Tuesday feeling fine and will toss another session Friday, per the Associated Press.

Hamilton is ramping back up as he looks to return from a lat strain he suffered in mid-June. Tuesday's bullpen was deemed as "high intensity," so the fact that he emerged without any setbacks suggests that he's getting closer to a minor-league rehab assignment. Hamilton may be asked to toss live batting practice before heading to an affiliate, though.

Verdugo batted in the No. 9 slot for the first time in his career Thursday versus the Angels.

The drop down to the bottom of the order may not have been performance-related, as Verdugo is batting .304 with 14 runs, six doubles, three RBI and a 6:8 BB:K over his past 10 games after going 1-for-2 with a run and two walks Thursday. Rather, the lineup adjustment could have been due to the Yankees facing lefty Tyler Anderson, as Verdugo is hitting just .209 against southpaws this season. The veteran outfielder batted leadoff in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader and fourth in the nightcap, so manager Aaron Boone appears comfortable moving Verdugo around in the lineup. Despite his recent uptick in performance, he is posting the worst statistical season of his career, as each part of his .236/.296/.374 slash line would be the lowest mark he's recorded since he became a full-time player in 2019.