MLB Player News

Javier (neck) was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Javier was scheduled to start Sunday in Washington but was scratched with neck discomfort, and he'll be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks. The severity of the injury is unclear, so there's no official timeline for his return from the injured list. Houston has three scheduled off days before the end of April and can get by with a four-man rotation in the short term.

France went 2-for-5 with a run in a win over the Rockies on Saturday, marking his sixth and seventh times on base within his last 10 plate appearances.

The hot stretch encompasses the last three games for France and began with a pinch-hit appearance in which he drew a walk against the Reds on Tuesday. The veteran infielder is sitting on an impressive .288 average and .348 on-base percentage, while his slugging percentage checks in at a much more modest .339 since he only has a trio of extra-base hits (all doubles) over 66 plate appearances. However, France is demonstrating improved discipline at the plate -- his 9.1 percent walk rate is a career high, while his 27.7 percent chase rate is significantly lower than the 37.8 percent figure he finished 2023 with.

Clase went 2-for-4 with a two-run single in a win over the Rockies on Saturday.

The dynamic rookie emptied the bases in the fifth inning with a single to right that rolled by Rockies right fielder Sean Bouchard, allowing Ty France, Cal Raleigh and Mitch Garver to cross the plate. Clase, who has elite speed, tried to follow his teammates' lead, but he was thrown out on his headfirst slide at home. Nevertheless, it was another productive night with the bat for Clase, who's now reached safely in all four of his big-league games and knocked in at least one run in three of them.

Garver went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run in a win over the Rockies on Saturday.

Garver's three trips on the basepaths helped pushed his on-base percentage over the .300 mark (.308), a number that particularly stands out when considering it sits between a .170 average and .283 slugging percentage on his slash line. The veteran has managed to reach safely in seven straight games, however, and when his .222 BABIP eventually normalizes some, the other two figures should see some appreciable boosts.

Ramirez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Athletics.

Ramirez started the first 21 games of the season but will sit for Sunday's series finale versus Oakland, which will give him two straight days since Cleveland has a scheduled day off Monday. The five-time All-Star is off to a slow start in 2024 with a .239/.253/.402 slash line in 95 plate appearances, though he's still tied for fifth in the AL in RBI (18) and tied for sixth in runs (15).

Davis (groin) was cleared to begin walking on a treadmill Friday, the Associated Press reports.

Davis suffered the groin strain last Sunday against the Nationals, so the fact he's already able to do some accelerated walking less than a week later is a good sign. However, Davis has yet to resume any baseball activities, so it remains to be seen if he'll be deemed ready to return when first eligible Thursday.

Toro went 1-for-4 with a triple in a loss to the Guardians on Saturday.

The three-bagger not only extended Toro's modest hitting streak to three games, it also served as his first such hit since June 2, 2022 while with the Mariners. Toro has now started 12 consecutive games at either third base or designated hitter, and while his .254/.323/.424 slash line is solid but not remarkable, it passes for one of the better ones on a struggling Oakland offense.

Noda went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in a loss to the Guardians on Saturday.

Noda authored the only multi-hit effort of the game for the Athletics, accomplishing the feat for the first time all season in the process. Noda's leadoff round tripper in the fifth inning was also his first time clearing the fences in 2024, and although his slash line still sits at a forgettable .190/.288/.293 through 67 plate appearances, he's now hit safely in three straight contests.

Whitlock (oblique) played catch Saturday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with what was described at the time as a low-grade strain. It's unclear if he'll require more than the 15 days or when Whitlock will advance to pitching off a mound.

The Red Sox recalled Heineman from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

The 32-year-old will join the active roster as Tristan Casas (ribs) makes his way to the 10-day injured list. Heineman will provide depth behind the plate as Boston's No. 3 catcher and is unlikely to see significant playing time.