AROUND THE HORN

Orioles: LH reliever Zach Britton was activated from the disabled list six months after he had surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon. Britton has been one of the best closers in the big leagues. With the Orioles in last place, a healthy Britton could become trade bait by July 31.

Red Sox: Mookie Betts and his big league-best .359 batting average are back. The Red Sox activated the OF from the DL and inserted him in the leadoff spot against the Orioles. Betts missed 14 games with an abdominal strain. The Red Sox went 8-6 in his absence and started play Monday a half-game behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East.

Brewers: 1B Eric Thames was reinstated from the 10-day DL and RHP Brandon Woodruff was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Thames had been out since April 25 after tearing a left thumb ligament. He was hitting .250 with seven homers and 13 RBIs when he got hurt. Woodruff is 2-0 with a 5.01 ERA in multiple stints this season in the big leagues.

Indians: Reliever Andrew Miller is just about ready to start facing live batters. Manager Terry Francona said the twotime All-Star had his best bullpen session since he was placed on the 10-day DL in late May because of inflammation in his right knee.

Cardinals: More than a year after a life-threatening brain injury, Daniel Poncedeleon is ready to make his major-league debut. The Cardinals bought the 26-year-old RHP’s contract from Triple-A Memphis before a three-game series against the Padres. Poncedeleon was 5-2 with a Pacific Coast Leagueleading 2.41 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) for Memphis this season. The promotion comes 13 months since a line drive struck Poncedeleon in the right temple, fracturing his skull during a game against the Iowa Cubs on May 9, 2017. Poncedeleon underwent an emergency craniotomy to fix an epidural hematoma, which is bleeding from his brain.