MLB Player News

Rizzo isn't in the Yankees' lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels.

Rizzo owns a .351 OPS across his past six games, so the Yankees will give him a rare day off Thursday so he can clear his head. DJ LeMahieu will shift to first base while Oswaldo Cabrera starts at the hot corner, batting ninth.

Manager Mark Kotsay said Thursday that Erceg will be placed on the 15-day injured list due to forearm tightness, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

With a 2.86 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through 22 innings, Erceg has emerged as a quality setup man for closer Mason Miller this season. However, a forearm injury will keep him on the shelf until at least mid-June. Austin Adams, who has also been effective so far this season, is the likely choice to take on the role of Oakland's main setup man while Erceg is sidelined.

The Yankees recalled Morris from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.

Morris was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on April 25 after not making an appearance following his call-up April 20. The last time he threw a pitch in the majors was in 2023 for Cleveland. The 27-year-old has a 2.82 ERA in Tripe-A this season across 22.1 innings in 13 games. In a corresponding move, Clarke Schmidt (lat) was placed on the 15-day injured list

The Yankees placed Schmidt on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right lat strain.

Schmidt gave up two runs (one earned) in five innings during Sunday's loss to the Padres, and he appears to have injured his lat in the process. His move to the IL is backdated to Monday, so the 28-year-old right-hander will be able to return beginning June 11. In the meantime, Cody Morris will come up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill the opening on New York's roster.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that he's optimistic O'Neill's (knee) stay on the 10-day injured list will be a short one, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

O'Neill landed on the IL on Wednesday with right knee inflammation, an injury that he had been playing with for a while. While Cora didn't exactly commit to O'Neill requiring just the minimum 10-day absence, it does not appear he will be out long. He's eligible for activation June 5. Rob Refsnyder appears most likely to soak up the bulk of the playing time at designated hitter while O'Neill is out, although the Red Sox have Connor Wong at DH and Reese McGuire at catcher Thursday versus the Tigers.

Whitlock (elbow) will undergo internal brace surgery Thursday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The Red Sox haven't laid out an official timeline for Whitlock's return, but the 27-year-old righty has expressed optimism that he will be able to return for the start of the 2025 season. He will close the book on 2024 with a 1.96 ERA and 1.15 WHIP alongside a 17:7 K:BB through 18.1 innings over four starts.

Perez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Boston.

Riley Greene will receive his first start of the season in center field, while Matt Vierling will occupy right field. Perez has scuffled in May, slashing just .244/.308/.354 in 22 games after he hit .302/.375/.628 across 15 April contests.

Rafaela isn't in Boston's lineup for Thursday's game against Detroit, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Rafaela went 0-for-4 during Wednesday's loss to Baltimore, putting an end to his four-game hit streak. He'll take a seat versus Jack Flaherty and the Tigers while Rob Refsnyder starts in the outfield, moving Connor Wong into the DH role and allowing Reese McGuire to start behind the plate.

Smith isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Smith failed to record a hit in 12 plate appearances during Boston's previous series against Baltimore, so he'll get a chance to clear his head Thursday. Garrett Cooper will get the nod at first base and bat sixth.

Raley is absent from the Mariners' lineup Thursday due to a sore lat, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

It offers an explanation as to why Raley was not starting against the Astros even with a right-hander on the mound. The hope seems to be that it will be only a brief absence, so consider Raley day-to-day for the time being. Seattle has Dominic Canzone in left field and Mitch Haniger in right Thursday versus Houston.