MLB Player News

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Carter (back) is available off the bench for Friday's series opener against the Angels, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Carter hasn't played since May 10 against the Rockies due to lower-back inflammation. He received a cortisone shot Monday, and while he won't be starting Friday, he could make a return to the lineup over the weekend. Carter is slashing .216/.303/.416 with six doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI over 142 plate appearances this season.

Francis (forearm) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Francis covered two scoreless innings for Buffalo in his first rehab appearance Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty-hander will likely fill a long-relief role upon his return, so he could be deemed ready for activation following Saturday's outing.

Urquidy (forearm) will make another rehab start after his upcoming outing at Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Manager Joe Espada said Urquidy is slated for four innings (60-65 pitches) in Saturday's contest, so the Astros will keep him in the minors for an additional rehab appearance to stretch him out further. The 29-year-old righty struggled in his first rehab outing, giving up three earned runs across 2.2 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land. Assuming his third start in the minors will be his last, Urquidy is in line to pitch again for the Astros in Seattle on May 29.

The Astros recalled Mushinski from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday.

Since being optioned to Triple-A on April 12, Mushinski has appeared in 12 games for Sugar Land, registering a 4.15 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB over 13 frames. The southpaw has not yielded a run over his last six minor-league outings, and he'll provide left-handed depth out of the bullpen for Houston. The Astros optioned right-hander Shawn Dubin to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.

Manzardo is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Twins, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Manzardo started the previous three contests and will receive a day off after going 1-for-10 with a walk and a run scored. David Fry will serve as Cleveland's designated hitter Friday.

Jankowski is not in the lineup for Friday's matchup against the Angels.

The lefty-hitting outfielder will start from the bench as the Rangers take on lefty Tyler Anderson. With Evan Carter (back) banged up, Jankowski started the last three games in left field for the Rangers, going 3-for-10 in that stretch. Though Ezequiel Duran will take left field and bat seventh against Los Angeles.

Crawford (oblique/hand) didn't travel with the team to Baltimore but has a locker in the Mariners' clubhouse, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The veteran shortstop was hit by a pitch on the hand during a rehab game Wednesday, and he's experienced some swelling and soreness. The fact that Crawford has a locker indicates he might return from the injured list this weekend.

Rodriguez (back) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

After throwing off a mound earlier this week, Rodriguez is set to make his first rehab appearance Tuesday. He made four starts prior to his back flaring up, but with the Blue Jays having indicated they wanted to monitor his workload in 2024, he could shift to the bullpen once he returns.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has a .646 OPS through 15 games in May and went 1-for-11 with five strikeouts over the past three contests. He'll sit after starting the first 44 games of the campaign. Yainer Diaz will serve as the designated hitter Friday while Victor Caratini starts behind the plate.

Moniak is not in the lineup for Friday's matchup against the Rangers.

The lefty hitting Moniak will start from the dugout as the Angels take on southpaw Andrew Heaney. Kevin Pillar will start at center field and bat fourth in place of Moniak with Taylor Ward and Jo Adell rounding out the Los Angeles outfield.