Red Sox activated 3B Will Middlebrooks from the 15-day disabled list. Middlebrooks was out three weeks with a lower back injury. The young third baseman had a weak .201 batting average and .234 OBP when he hit the shelf, but his power numbers have remained strong and he can be plugged back in with confidence in most fantasy leagues.

Will Middlebrooks (back) will continue his rehab assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket through the weekend. Middlebrooks is eligible to return from the disabled list on Saturday, but the Red Sox want to get his bat going before he returns to the lineup. Prior to the injury, he displayed impressive power with eight bombs and 21 RBI, but was hitting a meager .201/.234/.408.

WEEI.com reports that Will Middlebrooks (back) could be optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket when he returns from the disabled list. In other words, the Red Sox are prepared to go with other options at third base if he struggles during his rehab assignment. Middlebrooks has been sidelined since May 23 with a lower back strain and is eligible to return from the DL on Saturday.

Red Sox manager John Farrell said during an appearance on MLB Network Radio that Will Middlebrooks (back) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Pawtucket. If all goes according to plan, Middlebrooks should be activated as soon as he's eligible on Saturday. The 24-year-old has been sidelined since May 23 with a lower back strain.

Will Middlebrooks (back) will take batting practice on the field Sunday. It will come a day after he took BP in the cage and then grounders on the field. Assuming he can avoid a setback, Middlebrooks will be activated from the disabled list on Saturday when first eligible.

Will Middlebrooks (back) is expected to be activated from the disabled list on June 8, the first day he's eligible. Middlebrooks has started swinging a bat and running, as his lower back spasms are much better. "Dry swings today," Red Sox manager John Farrell said Wednesday. "He did some running outside. Even the last couple of days, he's been taking some throws on the infield and feels like things have really quieted down in his lower back. We feel like he's on schedule for that June 8 activation as well."

Red Sox placed 3B Will Middlebrooks on the 15-day disabled list with lower back spasms. 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.

Will Middlebrooks is considered day-to-day with lower back spasms. Middlebrooks initially hurt his back Wednesday, and the ailment forced him from Thursday's game after it acted up again. It sounds like he'll be fine in a day or two.

Will Middlebrooks left Thursday's game against the Indians after the fourth inning with lower back spasms. Middlebrooks struck out the inning before, but it's not clear if he tweaked something during that at-bat or earlier. It's not clear at this point how serious the ailment is. The Red Sox should provide an update after the game.

Will Middlebrooks delivered a three-run double with two outs in the ninth to lead the Red Sox past the Rays 4-3 on Thursday. Middlebrooks has been too often overmatched this year, but he is swinging better again of late. In his last seven games, he's 8-for-27, with all of those hits going for extra bases (seven doubles, one homer). He's also fanned a modest six times in that span after striking out 39 times in his first 32 games.