Astros outfielder Justin Maxwell is expected to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at extended spring training, MLB.com reports.

Maxwell suffered a broken hand April 23. He took 20 batting practice swings Friday and says he feels good. He's looking at an early June return at this point.

Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (illness), who appeared as a pinch-hitter on Wednesday, returned to the starting lineup Friday against the Rockies.

Sandoval has gone 3 for 6 with a home run against Friday's starter Tyler Chatwood. He is hitting .306/.343/.475 with eight homers and 34 RBI in 183 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was back in the starting lineup as expected for Friday's game against the Rockies. Belt was held out of the starting lineup for the team's previous game Wednesday against the Nationals, but appeared later in the game as a pinch-hitter. 

The Phillies have transferred starting pitcher Roy Halladay (shoulder) to the 60-day disabled list, clearing a spot for Michael Martinez on the roster.

Halladay reported to the team's spring training complex this week to begin his post-surgery rehab program. He is expected to be out until at least late August.

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham, who is on the disabled list with a wrist injury, has been feeling soreness when hitting and will be taken out of the lineup for a day or two, MLB.com reports.

Earlier this week, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Beckham could return this weekend, but that's a long shot with the second baseman experiencing soreness. Provided the soreness isn't a major setback, Beckham could return next week.

The Orioles have released reliever Zach Braddock, the Triple-A Norfolk Tides announced. Braddock has not pitched professionally since 2011. He spent all of 2013 on the minor league disabled list.

After a miserable 16-game stretch that saw him hit .151 (8 for 53) with two home runs, the Indians' Mark Reynolds had three hits Thursday, bringing his batting average back above .260.

So ... is that the end of the regression?

Hitting .260 wouldn't be entirely unprecedented for him. He did it in 2009, which was by far the best season of his career. He's a bit healthier now than he was for much of his Orioles career, making that mark a bit more feasible, but I think it's the absolute high point for a player who strikes out as often as he does.

Any way you look at it, the 2013 season will be a roller-coaster ride for Reynolds, but at least you can trust him to be an elite source of power again after nearly slumping his way out of a job last year. That alone makes him a top-15 third baseman in Fantasy. Keep that in mind when you're tempted to sell him short during the down times.

Despite dealing with bone chips in his right wrist since April, Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa refused to blame his poor hitting on the injury. 

"I won't ever use this as an excuse," he told reporters after the injury was announced. "I haven't hit lately."

Espinosa is batting .150 in May and has three hits in his last 10 games. He will be shut down for a few days to rest before a determination on his long-term availability is made. Surgery is not currently being considered. 

Twins starter P.J. Walters will get the call-up and the start Saturday against Detroit, MLB.com reports.

Walters has a 3.31 ERA and 2.8 K/BB in nine starts (54 1/3 innings) at Triple-A Rochester. The Twins will have to make a roster move to activate him but likely won't come until Saturday.

The Padres recalled reliever Tom Layne from Triple-A Tucson Friday to take the open spot on the roster created when Burch Smith was optioned.

Layne pitched in 26 games for the Padres last season, with a 3.24 ERA in 16 2/3 innings. He had a 4.00 ERA at Triple-A before being called up.