MLB Player News

The Angels placed Duffy on the COVID-19 injured list Sunday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Duffy was initially in line to start at first base Sunday against White Sox southpaw Dallas Keuchel, but the lefty-hitting Jared Walsh was instead a late addition to the lineup after Duffy was scratched. The Angels haven't indicated whether Duffy's placement on the COVID-19 IL was the result of a positive test or due to contact-tracing concerns, but he'll head into isolation until the team gets more clarity on the matter. Jack Mayfield was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to provide an extra option off the bench while Duffy is on the IL.

Toro will serve as Seattle's designated hitter and No. 6 hitter in Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Mitch Haniger's return from the COVID-19 injured list Friday looked as though it would send Toro back into a utility role, but that didn't last long. In his first game back from the bout with the illness, Haniger suffered a Grade 2 high-ankle sprain that resulted in him being placed on the IL on Saturday. With Haniger out of the picture, Jesse Winker, Julio Rodriguez and Jarred Kelenic should form the Seattle outfield in most games, leaving Eugenio Suarez and Toro to split third base and DH duties.

Walls will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Twins.

He'll be filling at shortstop for the first time since April 18 after Wander Franco was a late scratch from the lineup due to right hamstring tightness. Even if Franco's injury results in only a one-game absence, Walls is expected to see his starting opportunities grow over the next week after Ji-Man Choi (elbow) was placed on the injured list Sunday. While Choi is out of commission, Yandy Diaz is expected to see more work at first base, which should open up more reps at the hot corner for Walls.

Candelario went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in Saturday's win over the Dodgers.

Any good performance is welcome at this point for Candelario, who came into Saturday hitless over his previous four games. The third baseman is still batting just .159 this season, but after hitting .271 last year and .297 in 2020, it seems likely that he'll get his bat going eventually. Saturday's two-hit effort was just the second multi-hit game of the season for Candelario.

Nevin will start at first base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

With Trey Mancini (ribs) idle for the second day in a row, Nevin will pick up his third consecutive start. Through his first two starts since being promoted from Triple-A Norfolk heading into the weekend, Nevin has gone 0-for-7 with a pair of strikeouts.

The Rays recalled Paredes from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

He'll join the big club for the first time after the Rays optioned him to Durham following his acquisition from the Tigers on April 4. The 23-year-old infielder got off to a hot start to the campaign at Durham, slashing .270/.356/.500 with 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBI across 87 plate appearances. The righty-hitting Paredes could be an option to fill a short-side platoon role at either third or second base while he's up with the Rays.

Bregman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Bregman will sit for only the second time this season in what amounts to his first day off since April 9. Aledmys Diaz will fill in at third base for the 28-year-old, who is hitting .233 with four home runs, 13 RBI and 12 runs through 88 plate appearances on the season.

Walls went 0-for-1 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored Friday against the Twins.

Walls has started three consecutive games at third base with Ji-Man Choi (elbow) sidelined, which has in turn shifted Yandy Diaz to first base. Walls has only one hit in 10 plate appearances in that span, though he's also earned three free passes. On Friday, Walls led off the second inning with a walk and proceeded to steal second base -- his fourth swipe of the season. Once Choi is able to retake the field, Walls will likely return to a super-utility role along the Rays' infield.

Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a home run, double, two walks, three RBI and three runs in a 9-8 victory against the Athletics on Friday.

Ramirez opened the scoring with a solo shot off Oakland starter Frankie Montas in the first, walked in the third and fifth, scoring on the former, and delivered a two-RBI double and run during a four-run seventh that gave Cleveland the lead. The 29-year-old has been scorching through 20 April games and ranks among the league leaders in many offensive categories, including a league-best 28 RBI and .760 slugging.

Bregman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, two walks and three runs scored Friday against the Blue Jays.

Bregman got the Astros on the board with a solo home run in the first inning, his fourth long ball of the season. He reached base an additional two times on free passes, and he came around to score on each occasion. Even after this performance, Bregman has only five extra-base hits across his last 18 games. However, he's still reaching base regularly thanks to a 16.9 percent walk rate, so he has been able to rack up 12 runs scored across 83 total plate appearances on the campaign.