(5:55 pm ET) Angels third baseman David Freese was not ready to return to the starting lineup Friday against the Athletics, missing a third straight game due to a hamstring injury. 

Freese is batting .333 (15 for 45) with one home run, six doubles, five RBI, six runs, six walks and 10 strikeouts in his last 13 games.

(5:53 pm ET) In his second game since returning from the disabled, list Wil Myers will be handling first base duties for the Padres on Friday against the Dodgers. Myers, who will once again bat lead-off, was 1 for 5 with a walk on Thursday after missing about a month with a wrist injury.

Myers starting at first base on Friday allows manager Bud Black to rest Yonder Alonso, who had started each of the previous nine games. 

(5:49 pm ET) Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman (shoulder) will move his rehab assignment to Class A Frederick on Tuesday, per MASNsports.com. Gausman will throw just two innings Tuesday in case the Orioles want to insert him into the rotation for a series against the Blue Jays next weekend.

(5:48 pm ET) Outfielder Randal Grichuk will bat seventh for the first time this season as the Cardinals begin an interleague showdown Friday with the Royals. 

Grichuk has now hit everywhere in the Cardinals’ lineup except third and ninth this season. He hasn’t put up big numbers — hitting just .207 with one homer and two RBIs in June — but remains one of the team’s biggest power threats with the rash of injuries the team has faced. 

Grichuk is 0-for-3 in his career against Friday’s starter Yordano Ventura. 

(5:48 pm ET) After starting four straight games behind the plate, Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal will get a rest on Friday, as he is being held out of the starting lineup against the Padres. Grandal recently returned from a brief stint on the disabled list with a concussion, and has hit .237 (9 for 38) in the 12 games since his return.

He will cede the catching duties to A.J. Ellis with Clayton Kershaw on the mound for the Dodgers.

(5:45 pm ET) Dodgers infielder Justin Turner has been cleared to return to the lineup, and he will start at third base on Friday against the Padres. Turner had been sidelined since fouling a ball off of his knee on Monday. But he appears good to go for Friday’s series-opener with the Padres. 

Turner has been hitting the ball well lately, as he has hit safely in eight of the nine games he has played this month. Overall, he’s batting .310 with five home runs on the year.

(5:42 pm ET) Twins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco (ankle) threw 20 pitches in a bullpen session Thursday, according to the Pioneer Press. He will throw more pitches in another bullpen session Sunday before the team’s reassess his status.

(5:39 pm ET) First baseman Ben Paulsen gets the nod and will hit seventh as the Rockies continue their series with the Marlins on Friday. 

Paulsen has been used in a pinch-hitting role the last two games and in four of his last six appearances. He has made the most of his limited time, however, hitting .328 with five homers and 11 RBIs in just 24 games this season. 

(5:38 pm ET) Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco has been taken off his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville after suffering a setback with his hip injury Wednesday, manager Bryan Price said Friday, per MLB.com. 

Mesoraco will return to Cincinnati for rehab work and will be reassessed after the team’s road trip. Mesoraco, who hasn’t caught since April 12, is trying to make the transition to the outfield.

“We thought he could transition back to the outfield and it hasn’t gone as well as we had hoped from a physical standpoint,” Price said.

(5:31 pm ET) Since being removed as the Mariners closer, Fernando Rodney has made two appearances, allowing one run on two hits and one walk in two innings. He also has two strikeouts.

Unfortunately, those hopeful that Rodney would make a quick return to the closer’s role will be disappointed, as manager Lloyd McClendon said Friday the veteran reliever isn’t ready to resume his ninth-inning duties.

“I’m not sure he’s quite ready to go back to the closer’s role,” McClendon said, per the Tacoma News Tribune. “We’ll use him where we think he fits the best.

“He’s getting better. He’s still working on things every day. It’s coming. It’s not quite there yet.”