MLB Player News

Westburg (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

It will be Westburg's first game action since he sprained his right ankle Aug. 18. Barring any setbacks, he should be ready to return to the Orioles' active roster sometime next week. Emmanuel Rivera has been filling in at third base of late for the O's with Westburg sidelined.

Volpe (shoulder) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game in Boston.

Volpe received a cortisone shot Wednesday for a nagging left shoulder injury and will miss a third straight start. It's unclear whether he'll be available off the bench, but he's not expected to need a stint on the 10-day injured list. Jose Caballero will again play shortstop for the Yankees on Friday.

The Astros transferred Garcia to the 60-day injured list Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Garcia was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right elbow discomfort, so he will be ineligible to return in 2025 after Friday's move. Specifics regarding the right-hander's injury are unclear at this point, but he'll have a full offseason to recover. AJ Blubaugh is the leading candidate to fill Garcia's spot in the rotation the rest of the way.

Houston optioned Salazar to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

With Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini at full health, Salazar is expendable. He'll lose his spot on the active roster in order for Zach Cole to have his contract selected. Salazar is 3-for-13 (.231) with a 2:2 BB:K in 11 big-league games this season.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora indicated Friday that he was not optimistic Fitts (arm) would return before the end of the season, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Fitts has been sidelined since late August with inflammation in his brachial plexus, which is a bundle of nerves that begin in the spinal cord and extends through the shoulder and arm. He has yet to resume throwing, and there's no indication he'll be cleared to do so anytime soon. If Fitts' season is indeed over, he'll finish with a 5.00 ERA and 40:16 K:BB over 45 innings covering 10 starts and one relief appearance.

Lopez (shoulder) threw 20 pitches off the mound Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Lopez will throw five more bullpen sessions over the next couple weeks, and the plan is for the right-hander to face live hitters Sept. 30. Lopez will obviously miss the remainder of the 2025 season if that's the plan, but it sounds like he should be close to fully recovered by spring training next year. While Lopez has said he wants to remain a starter, he now says he'd be open to a return to the bullpen, according to Bowman.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Friday that Hicks (shoulder) could return before the end of the season, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Hicks landed on the 15-day injured list one week ago with right shoulder tendinitis. It's unclear whether he has resumed a throwing program, but it seems he's progressed enough in his recovery that his manager believes Hicks can rejoin the bullpen later this month. Hicks holds an 8.20 ERA and 15:12 K:BB over 18.2 innings during his time with the Red Sox.

The Astros selected Cole's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Cole's first MLB stint officially begins Friday, as the outfielder had his contract selected. The 25-year-old slashed .353/.459/.745 with five home runs and three stolen bases in 15 games with Sugar Land. With Yordan Alvarez, Jake Meyers and Jesus Sanchez healthy, Cole doesn't have a direct path to playing time.

Woodruff's next start will come Wednesday against the Angels, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Friday.

Woodruff last pitched Sept. 6 and was slated to take the mound Saturday against St. Louis. However, the Brewers are moving some starters around, and Woodruff now won't pitch until Wednesday. The 32-year-old didn't make his MLB debut until early July and has thrown 59.2 innings. He threw 67 innings in 2024.

Dingler is not in the lineup for Friday's contest in Miami.

Dingler will get a breather after catching each of the previous three games. Jake Rogers will be behind the plate and bat ninth for the Tigers.