Baltimore: Despite getting two outs in relief Wednesday, RHP Tommy Hunter will make his scheduled start Friday at Tampa Bay. Hunter has allowed five or more runs in six of his past 11 appearances, a stretch that includes three relief outings. … RHP Kevin Gausman, the fourth overall pick in last month’s draft out of LSU, will make his pro debut Monday for short-season Aberdeen (Md.), according to MASNsports.com. The report said Gausman would work in a six-man rotation with Aberdeen.
Boston: RHP Josh Beckett missed his bullpen session, leaving him doubtful for his scheduled Sunday start against the Twins. Beckett left his Tuesday start in the third inning due to back spasms. … RH closer Andrew Bailey pitched a scoreless inning Wednesday in his first rehab game in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Bailey, out all season since having right thumb surgery this spring, hopes to join the major league bullpen later this month.
Chicago: In November 2003, LHP Francisco Liriano was part of the package the Twins received when they dealt C A.J. Pierzynski to the Giants. This week, Pierzynski caught Liriano for the first time as his White Sox teammate. “I know it’s fun to see someone else try to hit that slider besides me after all these years,” Pierzynski said. … The White Sox shuffled the rotation again to give rookie LHP Jose Quintana eight days off between starts. “The most important thing is to make sure they’re healthy and competitive when they go out there,” manager Robin Ventura said.
Cleveland: RHP Derek Lowe, who was 2-9 with an 8.28 ERA his past 13 starts, was designated for assignment. Overall this season, Lowe was 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA in 21 starts. The Indians needed to clear a roster spot for RHP Corey Kluber, who was recalled from Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) to start against the Royals. … Opponents are 9-for-9 in stolen-base attempts in RHP Zach McAllister’s 11 starts, including the Royals’ 4-for-4 night Wednesday. “That’s been one of his issues that he’s got to work on,” manager Manny Acta said.
Detroit: DH Delmon Young’s attorney says he’s trying to work out a deal with prosecutors in connection with the player’s hate-crime harassment case in New York. Young was in court briefly Thursday for an update in his case in which he’s accused of yelling anti-Jewish phrases at a group of tourists, and scuffling and tackling one to the ground in April. … RF Brennan Boesch will continue to hit fifth against right-handed pitching, manager Jim Leyland said. On Wednesday, Leyland moved Boesch up one spot to replace Young, who was bumped to sixth.
Kansas City: OF Jeff Francoeur was not in the lineup for the fourth consecutive game, but manager Ned Yost said Francoeur likely would start Friday against Rangers LHP Matt Harrison. Francoeur is in a 5-for-49 (.102) slump, dropping his average to .238. … It was social media night Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium, but that didn’t mean much to Yost. “I’ve never ever one time looked at Facebook. I’ve never looked at Twitter. Whatever else they have out there, I’m not a social media guy,” he said.
Los Angeles: 1B Albert Pujols hit two home runs Tuesday and another two Wednesday, giving him consecutive multi-homer games for the first time in his career. He also reached 1,400 career RBI. Only three other players drove in 1,400 RBI in their first 12 seasons: Al Simmons, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio. … RHP Jered Weaver (14-1) is the first pitcher to win as many as 14 games in his first 19 starts of a season since Ubaldo Jimenez went 15-1 for the 2010 Rockies. He’s the first AL pitcher to do it since Jon Garland went 15-4 for the 2005 White Sox.
Minnesota: RHP P.J. Walters (right shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Class AAA Rochester (N.Y.) on Saturday. Walters might not be ready to return Aug. 13, when he’ll be eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list. … RHP Alex Wimmers, the Twins’ first-round pick in 2010, underwent Tommy John surgery. He made just two minor league appearances this season, as he had been trying to rehab a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
New York: 1B Mark Teixeira will test his injured left wrist before Friday’s game to determine if he’s ready to rejoin the lineup. He has missed two consecutive games, and he received a cortisone injection Tuesday. Teixeira first hurt the wrist swinging the bat Sunday, then aggravated it while diving for a ball Monday. … LHP CC Sabathia, who starts Friday against Seattle, has allowed one run or fewer in nine of his past 10 starts against the Mariners dating to May 2006. In his past seven starts vs. Seattle, he is 7-0 with a 0.88 ERA.
Oakland: RHP Dan Straily, who leads the minors with 175 strikeouts, will make his major league debut tonight against the Blue Jays. Straily, 23, is 8-6 with a 2.60 ERA over 22 starts between Class AA and Class AAA this season. He is expected to take LHP Travis Blackley’s rotation spot. … IF Adam Rosales was called up from Class AAA Sacramento (West Sacramento, Calif.), where he hit .280 in 76 games. SS Brandon Hicks, who had three homers in his past nine games but was batting .183 overall, was optioned to Sacramento.
Seattle: LH reliever Charlie Furbush threw a bullpen session Wednesday as he attempts to come back from a strained left triceps muscle. “We’ve just got to sit down and put a game plan together for him,” said manager Eric Wedge, who added that Furbush likely would go on a rehab assignment with Class AAA Tacoma (Wash.). … Tacoma LHP Danny Hultzen, the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft, will have his next start skipped as the Mariners try to monitor his innings. Hultzen is 1-2 with a 5.23 ERA in seven Class AAA starts after going 8-3 with a 1.19 ERA in 13 starts for Class AA Jackson (Tenn.).
Tampa Bay: 3B Evan Longoria resumed his rehab assignment with Class AAA Durham (N.C.), playing his fifth game as the designated hitter. He was off Tuesday due to “general soreness,” not specific to his injured left hamstring. Longoria is expected to rejoin the Rays next week. … RHP Jeff Niemann, out since breaking his right leg in mid-May, is scheduled to throw a simulated game Friday at Tropicana Field. If all goes well, he could head out on a rehab assignment. He’s targeting a late-August return.
Texas: 3B/OF Mike Olt, 23, had his contract purchased from Frisco (Texas). In 95 Class AA games, he hit .288 with 28 homers and 82 RBI. IF/OF Brandon Snyder (.281 in 38 games) was optioned to Class AAA Round Rock (Texas). … The Rangers trailed by six runs after four innings Wednesday and by three runs going to the bottom of the 10th before beating the Angels 11-10. It was the biggest deficit Texas has overcome in a win since Aug. 13, 2010, and the Rangers tied the club mark for the biggest extra-inning comeback.
Toronto: RF Jose Bautista, out since July 17 due to left wrist inflammation, said he is “a long ways” from returning. “I’m not going to start playing before I’m capable of doing what I can do and help the team win games,” he said. … LHP J.A. Happ, who has been a reliever since being acquired in a trade with Houston on July 20, might find his way into a six-man rotation, manager John Farrell said. Happ was 7-9 with a 4.83 ERA in 18 starts for the Astros this season.