BREWERS’ THAMES OUT 6-8 WEEKS
Brewers first baseman Eric Thames had surgery on his left thumb, and Milwaukee said it expects him to return in six to eight weeks.
Dr. Donald Sheridan operated Friday in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Thames tore the ulnar collateral ligament during Tuesday night’s victory in Kansas City when he dived to grab Mike Moustakas’ eighth-inning grounder and Thames’ glove hit the ground hard. Thames made the flip to pitcher Dan Jennings covering first for the out and was replaced in the middle of the ninth inning.
The 31-year-old Thames is hitting .250 with seven homers and 13 RBIs.
Maddon hopes Bryant will return Saturday.
CHICAGO» Cubs manager Joe Maddon hopes slugger Kris Bryant will return to Chicago’s lineup for Saturday’s game against Milwaukee.
Bryant was beaned during a victory at Colorado last weekend and missed his fourth straight game on Friday.
“I’m not going to jump the gun, but talking to everybody, I want to give him a chance to come back,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon.
Bryant wasn’t available to reporters.
“I think he’s feeling more like himself today,” Maddon said.
Bryant was hit by a pitch for the seventh time this season when German Marquez’s 96 mph fastball struck the underside flap of his helmet at Denver on Sunday.
Bogaerts returns to Red Sox from disabled list.
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts returned to the starting lineup after missing 15 games with a broken talus bone in his left ankle.
Bogaerts was activated from the 10-day disabled list Friday. He started at shortstop and batted fifth against Tampa Bay.
Bogaerts missed more time than initially expected. Boston manager Alex Cora said he wasn’t going to rush the 25-yearold, an all-star two years ago who was batting .368 with nine RBIs at the time of his injury.
“I wasn’t going to push him just to have his name in the lineup,” Cora said. “I want him to feel comfortable and move around and feel that his pace is there. It’s very important for him.”
Phillies place right-hander Lively on DL.
The Phillies have placed righthander Ben Lively on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained lower back.
Righty Jake Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Lively’s roster spot before Friday night’s game against Atlanta.
Lively was 0-2 with a 6.84 ERA in five starts. He earned a spot in the rotation coming out of spring training because of an injury to Jerad Eickhoff.
Footnotes.
Braves right-hander Julio Teheran left Friday night’s start against the Phillies after three innings because of tightness in his right upper trapezius. Teheran allowed a three-run homer in the first inning but didn’t allow a hit in the next two innings before coming out. He was replaced by Max Fried. Teheran is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts. … The Mets recalled righthander Jacob Rhame from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned right-hander Corey Oswalt to the Pacific Coast League club. The Mets also claimed left-hander Buddy Baumann off waivers from San Diego and optioned him to Las Vegas. To make room on the 40-man roster, David Wright was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. … Retired usher Phil Coyne turned 100 on Friday, and the Pittsburgh Pirates threw a party. Coyne was honored before Friday’s game against St. Louis. An usher since 1936, Coyne decided to retire just before opening day because of complications from a hip injury.