Toronto duo returns to starting lineup

Toronto Blue Jays infielders Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki were activated off the disabled list and are back in the starting lineup.

The stars played Friday night against Texas.

Donaldson, the 2015 American League MVP, batted second and had been out since April 13 because of a sore right calf. Donaldson is hitting .310 with two homers and four RBIs in nine games.

Tulowitzki, out since April 21 with a sore right hamstring, batted seventh. He’s hitting .263 with 1 homer and 10 RBIs.

The Blue Jays optioned right-hander Cesar Valdez to Class AAA Buffalo. Outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. was optioned to Buffalo Wednesday aftera win at Milwaukee.

The injury-wracked Blue Jays still are without three starting pitchers, including right-hander and reigning AL ERA leader Aaron Sanchez, left-hander and 20game winner J.A. Happ, and left-hander Francisco Liriano. Toronto has gone 19-15 since starting 2-11, but remains last in the AL East Division.

Athletics

Oakland scratched righthander Kendall Graveman from his start at Yankee Stadium. The team didn’t announce why Graveman wouldn’t pitch in the series opener at New York. Graveman wasn’t listed to start in the three-game set and was not assigned a locker in the visitors clubhouse. He is 2-2 with 3.83 ERA in eight starts.

Left-hander Sean Manaea, 2-3 with a 5.24 ERA in seven starts, moved up a day and took Graveman’s place. Manea will be pitching on five days of rest. Right-hander Jharel Cotton will be called up Saturday from Class AAA Nashville and will start.

White Sox

Right-hander James Shields, 35, said he is just about ready to go on a rehabilitation assignment. He threw about a 30-pitch bullpen session for the second time in three days. He plans to throw again Monday, then make one or two rehab starts before returning from the 10-day disabled list.

Red Sox

Boston infielder Marco Hernandez will be out the rest of the season after having surgery on his left shoulder. The team said the procedure was performed by Dr. Tom Holovacs in Boston. Hernandez, 24, was put on the disabled list May 4 with a left shoulder misalignment. He hit .276 with two RBIs in 21 games.