MLB Player News

Yoshida is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Cubs.

It marks the fourth straight game that Yoshida has been absent from the lineup. Rafael Devers is getting another start at designated hitter Friday and the Red Sox don't seem to trust Yoshida's defense in the outfield, leading to him receiving just one plate appearance so far this week. The plan is for Devers to return to third base Saturday, with Yoshida being used at DH that day.

Abreu is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Cubs.

Southpaw Shota Imanaga is toeing the rubber for the Cubs, so the left-handed hitting Abreu is receiving a day off. Tyler O'Neill will cover right field and Rob Refsnyder will get a start in left for the Red Sox.

Means (forearm) will make another rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The Orioles previously hadn't ruled out the possibility that Means' next start could come in the majors, but ultimately they've decided to give him at least one more tune-up. It's not a surprise, as the southpaw has really struggled on his rehab assignment to this point, collecting a 13.89 ERA, 2.41 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB in 11.2 innings. Means did get his pitch count up to 79 in his last outing, so he should be fully built up after Sunday's start. He could make his season debut with the Orioles as soon as May 3 in Cincinnati.

The Orioles optioned Holliday to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.

The top prospect made his big-league debut April 10 in Boston to much fanfare, but he looked entirely overmatched at the plate in his first couple weeks of MLB action. Holliday went 2-for-34 with two walks, five runs and 18 strikeouts in 10 games, so the Orioles opted to return him to Norfolk. The 20-year-old could rejoin Baltimore for another look later in the season, but for now he'll head back to Triple-A, where he posted a 1.077 OPS in 56 plate appearances to start the year.

Banuelos was designated for assignment by the Orioles on Friday.

The move frees up a 40-man roster spot for Ryan McKenna. It's the second time this month that Banuelos has been designated for assignment, so he could refuse this one if he wants to try his luck in free agency.

The White Sox designated Pillar for assignment Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The 35-year-old posted a .160/.290/.360 slash line through 32 plate appearances, and he'll lose his place on Chicago's 26-man and 40-man rosters to make room for Tommy Pham. Pillar could elect to become a free agent if he passes through waivers unclaimed.

The White Sox selected Pham's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Signed to a minor-league contract April 15, Pham has been knocking some rust off at Charlotte, where he went 5-for-17 with one double, two stolen bases and a 3:1 K:BB. The 36-year-old should receive regular playing time in the outfield for the White Sox, with most of it likely to come between center and right field. Pham had a .774 OPS with 16 homers and 22 steals in 2023 and makes for a viable fantasy option in most formats.

Hernaiz went 2-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run in a 3-1 win over the Yankees on Thursday.

Hernaiz, who was called back up from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier in the day, made an impact from the bottom of the order for an offense-starved Oakland team. He had significant trouble mastering big-league arms to open the season, but he's in line for significant playing time while Zack Gelof (oblique) is on the 10-day injured list.

Allen went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a win over the Yankees on Thursday.

The light-hitting shortstop squared up a Nestor Cortes offering in the third inning to erase an early 1-0 deficit for Oakland. Allen's round tripper was his first of the season, and his first extra-base hit since March 31. The 25-year-old's season slash line is still a miserable .171/.216/.229, but Allen has hit safely in four of his last five games.

Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run in a win over the Rangers on Thursday.

Rodriguez continues to climb out of an early-season hole, erasing the memory of an 0-for-4, three-strikeout performance Wednesday with his sixth multi-hit effort in the last eight games. Rodriguez added his seventh steal in eight attempts as well, putting him on pace to blow past the career-best 37 bags he swiped in 2023.