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Brenan Hanifee RP | DET
Tigers' Brenan Hanifee: Opening Thursday
Hanifee will serve as the Tigers' opener during Thursday's game against the Mariners.
Hanifee has allowed two earned runs in four innings since having his contract selected from Triple-A on Aug. 1, and he'll now make his first MLB start after pitching the ninth inning of Wednesday's contest. The 26-year-old righty worked primarily as a starter throughout his minor-league career up until this season and is still capable of pitching multiple innings, but he will likely be pulled after a frame or two Thursday for Kenta Maeda, who is expected to pitch in bulk relief.
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Jose Siri LF | LAA
Rays' Jose Siri: Not starting Thursday
Siri isn't in the Rays' lineup for Thursday's game against St. Louis, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Despite putting together a five-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 6-for-18 and stolen two bases, Siri will get a day off for Thursday's series finale. While he rests, Josh Lowe, Jonny DeLuca and Dylan Carlson will start across the Rays' outfield.
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Jose Caballero SS | NYY
Rays' Jose Caballero: Taking seat Thursday
Caballero isn't in the Rays' lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Caballero will get a day to rest Thursday after recording a hit and stealing a base in each of the first two games of the series. His absence will allow Curtis Mead to pick up a start at the hot corner while batting ninth.
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Justin Verlander SP | DET
Astros' Justin Verlander: Beginning rehab assignment Saturday
Verlander (neck) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
After getting through Wednesday's bullpen session without any issues, Verlander has now been given the green light to pitch in the minors. He threw 37 pitches over two innings during a simulated game Sunday, though he has been able to surpass the 50-pitch mark during bullpen sessions. It's unclear how long the Astros plan on keeping the 41-year-old righty in the minors, but he'll likely be in line for at least one more rehab outing after Saturday.
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Vaughn Grissom 1B | LAA
Red Sox's Vaughn Grissom: Activated, optioned to Triple-A
The Red Sox reinstated Grissom (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Worcester, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.
Grissom has taken a massive step back at the plate in the big leagues this year, slashing just .148/.207/.160 with three RBI in 87 plate appearances. He's begun to rediscover his swing while on a rehab assignment with Worcester, tallying a hit in nine of his last 10 games, but the Red Sox will keep him stashed away in the minors now that he's fully recovered from his right hamstring strain.
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Willie Calhoun DH | LAA
Angels' Willie Calhoun: Not in Thursday's lineup
Calhoun isn't in the Angels' lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
Calhoun will take a seat for the fourth time in the Angels' last five games after going 1-for-2 with two walks in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader. Brandon Drury will serve as Los Angeles' designated hitter while Michael Stefanic starts at the keystone.
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Austin Wells C | NYY
Yankees' Austin Wells: Earning more playing time
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Wells has "earned more and more reps" even after the return of Jose Trevino (quad), Max Goodman of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Wells and Trevino were being used pretty evenly before the latter was injured. However, with Wells hitting .383/.456/.596 over his last 12 games, he appears in line for the bulk of the starts at catcher once Trevino is activated, which could happen as soon as next week.
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Hunter Bigge RP | ATH
Rays' Hunter Bigge: Optioned to Triple-A
The Rays optioned Bigge to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 26-year-old righty will be squeezed out of the big-league bullpen as Richard Lovelady (forearm) returns from the injured list. Bigge has given up just one earned run in 7.1 MLB innings this season, and he has not been scored upon in four frames since joining the Rays.