Max Scherzer is set to make a Minor League rehab start Wednesday, which will be the first game action for the 39-year-old since back surgery during the offseason.

Scherzer is scheduled to start for Triple-A Round Rock at home against Salt Lake, the Los Angeles Angels' affiliate.

The plan is to throw about 50 pitches. The right-hander threw 40 pitches in a simulated game Friday.

Scherzer had surgery Dec. 15 to repair a herniated disk in his lower back. 

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jakob Junis was taken away in an ambulance after being hit in the neck by a line drive during batting practice on Monday at PNC Park.

Junis was standing in the outfield when he was struck by the hard-hit ball off the bat of teammate Alika Williams.

Junis remained down for about 20 minutes while being treated by medical teams. The Pirates said he was conscious, alert and responsive and sent to a hospital for further evaluation.

The Tampa Bay Rays placed struggling closer Pete Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list with nerve-related issues before Monday night's game against the Detroit Tigers.

Fairbanks has experienced numbness in his fingers at times over the past few years, and the problem flared up again on Saturday and Sunday.

The Boston Red Sox have placed Triston Casas on the injured list with a left rib strain.

Casas, 24, felt discomfort in his rib area during his first at-bat in Boston's 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday and left the game.

He is hitting .244/.344/.513 with 6 home runs and 10 RBI on the season.

The Houston Astros have placed Cristian Javier on the injured list with neck discomfort.

Spencer Arrighetti will be recalled to take Javier's place in the starting rotation, according to manager Joe Espada.

"Neck discomfort, started a few days ago," Espada said. "He tried to work through it but just couldn't happen. This kind of just came out of nowhere. So, we are going to see what happens here."

Hunter Brown started in Javier's place Sunday in the rubber match of the three-game series, taking the loss as the Washington Nationals defeated the Astros 6-0.

The Los Angeles Angels placed Anthony Rendon on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a left hamstring strain, adding another chapter to the third baseman's checkered medical history with the team.

Rendon, 33, came up limping after legging out an infield hit to open the Angels' game against the host Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez has a torn ligament in his left thumb and will need surgery, manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday after a 6-4 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Alvarez was placed on the 15-day injured list before the game with a sprained left thumb suffered while running the bases the night before in a 9-4 victory against the Dodgers. An MRI was performed late Friday night.

Texas Rangers starter Max Scherzer, continuing his recovery trail from offseason back surgery, is expected begin his rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues next week.

The team has not announced where in its minor league system that Scherzer will pitch, but signs are pointing toward a return for the veteran right-hander to the defending World Series champions' rotation soon.

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Daniel Duarte will undergo season-ending elbow surgery on May 8, the team said Saturday.

It has not been determined whether he will have Tommy John surgery or internal brace surgery. The type of procedure will impact his return date in 2025.

The Detroit Tigers placed third baseman Gio Urshela on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to a right hamstring strain.

In a corresponding move, Detroit recalled third baseman Buddy Kennedy from Triple-A Toledo.