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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Aiming to return Saturday
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that he's hopeful Lowe (oblique) will be ready to return to the lineup Saturday in Colorado, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Lowe exited Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Rangers due to left side tightness, but Cash said the second baseman wanted to remain in the game. The manager hopes that the team's off day Thursday combined with a left-hander starting for the Rockies on Friday will allow Lowe sufficient rest before he can return to action Saturday. Side injuries can be tricky, though, so an eventual stint on the injured list can't be ruled out.
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Robert Stephenson RP | LAA
Angels' Robert Stephenson: Nearing live BP session
Stephenson (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and could be cleared to face hitters in live batting practice within the next few days, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
According to Fletcher, the bullpen session was Stephenson's third in less than a week, a sign that he's bouncing back well after he was shut down for a brief period of time earlier in the spring with right shoulder inflammation. Because he didn't complete a proper spring training throwing progression, Stephenson will still need additional time to complete the ramp-up process, but a minor-league rehab assignment doesn't appear to be too far off. Stephenson could report to one of the Angels' affiliates as soon as next week if his live BP session goes as expected.
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Luis Rengifo LF | SD
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Removed with lightheadedness
Rengifo was lifted from Wednesday's game in Miami after feeling lightheaded.
Rengifo went 1-for-3 with a run scored at the plate before exiting. Consider him day-to-day for the time being. Nolan Schanuel entered the game in Rengifo's place, with Miguel Sano shifting from first to third base.
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Matt Manning SP | PHI
Tigers' Matt Manning: Set for spot start Thursday
The Tigers plan to call up Manning from Triple-A Toledo to start the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Mets, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Manning wasn't able to secure a spot in the Tigers' Opening Day rotation, but he won't have to wait long to make his first start of the season with the big club. As a result of weather-related postponements on consecutive days, the Tigers and Mets will play a twin bill Thursday in Citi Field, creating a stretch of seven games in six days for Detroit. Manning will be designated as the 27th man for the twin bill and will serve as a temporary sixth starter before likely being optioned back to Toledo immediately following the start against the Mets. Manning looked sharp in his lone outing for Toledo last Friday, striking out seven while pitching five innings of one-run ball.
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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Exits game with side tightness
Lowe was removed from Wednesday's game against the Rangers due to left side tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's not clear when Lowe was injured, but he went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before being lifted after the fifth inning. The Rays are calling Lowe day-to-day for the time being, but the club may offer more clarity on his situation after the game.
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Cody Bolton RP | HOU
Mariners' Cody Bolton: First clean appearance of season
Bolton fired 1.2 scoreless, hitless relief innings during which he recorded two strikeouts in a loss to the Guardians on Tuesday.
Bolton got five outs on just 15 pitches, with 11 of those offerings landing in the strike zone. The especially sharp outing was a welcome sight for the right-hander -- he'd surrendered an earned run in each of his first two appearances of the season after earning a spot on the Opening Day roster.
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Mitch Garver C | SEA
Mariners' Mitch Garver: Reaches in first two games back
Garver went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk in a loss to the Guardians on Tuesday.
The noteworthy offseason acquisition laced one of four two-baggers on the night for the Mariners, with the double serving as his first hit since returning from a two-game absence due to back spasms. Garver had also reached safely in his first game back Monday, however, drawing a free pass and scoring a run over four plate appearances. The fact he was able to suit up in back-to-back games implies Garver is past his physical issues for the time being.
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Mitch Spence RP | KC
Athletics' Mitch Spence: Takes loss Tuesday
Spence (0-1) was charged with the loss in extra innings against the Red Sox on Tuesday, allowing one unearned run on one hit over one inning.
Spence got the call in the 11th inning after closer Mason Miller had already thrown 29 pitches over the prior pair of frames. Spence's loss was primarily of the tough-luck variety, as the one run he surrendered came on a Tyler O'Neill double play groundout that scored inning-opening runner Reese McGuire. Spence was effective in his first appearance of the season on Friday against the Guardians, and Tuesday's nearly clean outing shouldn't blemish the perception he could be a reliable multi-inning relief option for manager Mark Kotsay.
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Josh Rojas 3B | KC
Mariners' Josh Rojas: Sitting versus lefty
Rojas is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
The Mariners are going with a right-handed-heavy lineup to counter southpaw Logan Allen, so Rojas will retreat to the bench along with Dominic Canzone. Dylan Moore will replace Canzone in left field, while Luis Urias spells Rojas at third base.