Player Notes

Red Sox placed 3B Will Middlebrooks on the 15-day disabled list with lower back spasms.
Advice: Middlebrooks suffered the injury Wednesday and aggravated it Thursday. The Red Sox initially said he was day-to-day, but evidently they've decided the best course of action was to sit him down for a couple weeks. Jose Iglesias has been promoted to fill his spot on the roster and will share time with Pedro Ciriaco at the hot corner.

Indians optioned INF Cord Phelps to Triple-A Columbus.
Advice: Phelps didn't see an at-bat during the few days he was with the big club. With Nick Swisher back from paternity leave, he heads back to the minors.

Indians activated 1B/OF Nick Swisher from the paternity leave list.
Advice: Swisher was away from the team for a few days while attending the birth of his first child. Cord Phelps has been sent down in a corresponding move.

Trevor Plouffe passed an imPACT concussion test on Thursday.
Advice: Plouffe took a knee to the head Tuesday night when he tried to break up a double play and was placed on the 7-day disabled list because of his initial wooziness. However, he has already done some cardio work and should return right around when he's first eligible.
More: Rhett Bollinger on Twitter

Carlos Santana went 1-for-2 with four walks in Thursday's blowout win against the Boston.
Advice: He also scored three runs. Santana owners enjoyed a spectacular April out of their star catcher and then suffered through a rough May prior to Wednesday (182/.316/.333). In Cleveland's last two games, Santana is 3-for-6 with a homer, five walks, two RBI and four runs. He's third in the AL in walks (29) and fourth in OPS (.975).

Red Sox recalled INF Jose Iglesias from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Advice: Iglesias had been playing multiple infield spots at Pawtucket of late, which came in handy since he's replacing Will Middlebrooks (back) on the roster. He and Pedro Ciriaco should share third base for the next couple weeks.

Red Sox activated C David Ross from the 7-day disabled list.
Advice: Ross played in a rehab game with Double-A Portland on Thursday and didn't have any concussion symptoms. He'll return to backing up Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Red Sox placed OF Shane Victorino on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 21, with a left hamstring strain.
Advice: Victorino ran sprints prior to Thursday's game, but evidently he still hasn't made enough progress. Given that he's also had a back issue lately, it's probably best to let him rest for a couple weeks. Daniel Nava will handle right field while Victorino is out.

Chris Stewart (groin) is back in the Yankees' starting lineup Friday against the Rays.
Advice: Stewart injured his left groin on an awkward slide into third base last Thursday, but managed to avoid a stint on the disabled list. Austin Romine will move back into a backup role.
More: The Journal News

Danny Espinosa has been playing with a small fracture in his right wrist for the past month.
Advice: It's actually a loose bone chip in his hand. The injury stems from when he was hit by a pitch from Paul Maholm on April 14 and certainly explains his struggles. Espinosa hopes to avoid a trip to the disabled list and possible surgery, but the Nationals plan to rest him for a few days. Steve Lombardozzi will fill in at second base for the time being.
More: Mark Zuckerman on Twitter

Miguel Cabrera continued to torment major league pitching Thursday, going 2-for-3 with another homer in a comeback win against the Twins.
Advice: He also walked twice. Now on a four-game home run streak, Cabrera is 9-for-15 (.600) with five walks, a double, six homers, 13 RBI and nine runs during that stretch. He's first in the AL in batting average (.391), second in homers (14), and first in RBI (55), runs (39), slugging percentage (.701) and OPS (1.168). He's only eighth in walks (25) at the moment, but he'll be gifted plenty more of those as teams realize it's an awful idea to throw Cabrera a hittable pitch at the moment.

Pedro Florimon Jr. (finger) will not be in the lineup Friday.
Advice: The good news is that Florimon isn't expected to miss much time after leaving Thursday's game with a right index finger sprain. Eduardo Escobar is likely to be at shortstop for the Twins Friday.
More: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Adam Jones is playing center field on Friday.
Advice: Jones had been limited to DH duty of late due to some minor groin soreness, but he's ready to play the field again. He's batting .316/.350/.487 with six homers and eight steals this season.
More: Eduardo A. Encina on Twitter