MLB Player News

Giants catcher Buster Posey, shortstop Brandon Crawford and center fielder Angel Pagan are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Second baseman Joe Panik will serve as the team's No. 3 hitter, a slot that normally features Pagan, while shortstop Matt Duffy will slot into Panik's regular No. 2 spot. First baseman Brandon Belt has been bumped to the cleanup role.

The Giants are a coin flip (-105) against the Marlins Sunday.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup after his flight back from Dallas was delayed. 

Plouffe left the team to attend his grandfather's funeral. Doug Bernier will replace him in the starting lineup, batting seventh. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe may not be at the stadium in time for Sunday's game, per the Pioneer Press. 

Originally listed in the starting lineup, Plouffe's flight from Dallas was delayed. He's scheduled to arrive at 12:40 PM. There will be a driver waiting to take him to the ballpark, but with a 1:10 start time, it will be tough to make it in time for first pitch. 

Doug Bernier will get the start if Plouffe isn't there in time. 

Plouffe was in Texas tending to a family emergency.

Indians infielder Zach Walters gets his first start of the season at shortstop on Sunday. 

Walters replaces Jose Ramirez, who has started 23 games at short this season. He'll bat ninth in the order. 

The Indians are -160 money-line favorites at home against Minnesota. 

The Pirates are using Sunday to give several players a break from starting, as right fielder Gregory Polanco, second baseman Neil Walker and first baseman Pedro Alvarez are not in the lineup against the Cardinals.

The Cardinals are sending a lefty to the mound, making it the first time in 10 games that the Pirates have faced a lefty starter. Polanco and Alvarez have been in the lineup for that entire stretch but also sat in the team's last game against a southpaw. The switch-hitting Walker also received last Sunday off from starting.

With the shakeup to the lineup, Josh Harrison will man second and return to the leadoff spot, while Jung Ho Kang will bat second and play third base.

The Pirates are favorites (-115) at home Sunday.

Phillies infielders Chase Utley, Cody Asche and Ryan Howard are back in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.

The Phillies gave all three a break from starting with a lefty on the mound Saturday, but all have returned to their regular roles.

The Phillies are home underdogs (+130) against the Mets Sunday.

Third baseman Evan Longoria returns to the field for the Rays for Sunday's game against Texas. 

Longoria had started at DH the last two games. He also makes his second straight start in the three-hole in the order after batting cleanup 29 times this season. 

Joey Butler returns to the DH spot 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria went 2 for 3 at the plate in Tampa Bay's 7-2 win over the Rangers on Saturday.

Longoria did his damage in the first inning when he ripped a 1-0 pitch from Ross Detwiler over the center field wall for a three-run shot, his fourth of the season. Longoria moved his average to .304 with 12 RBI in 102 at-bats this season.

Leadoff hitter Jean Segura connected for a solo home run in the Brewers' victory over the Cubs on Friday.

The home run was his second of the year and first since April 11.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche was out of the lineup again on Saturday against the Mets, but may be preparing for a shift to the outfield, according to MLB.com.

Asche is shagging fly balls in the outfield and working on outfield drills during pregame warmups with the club. 

"He's looked fine," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He seems to have the moves and the foot speed for it. He seems to be doing all right if that would ever be the case."

But Sandberg wouldn't say for sure whether Asche will move to the outfield. Asche has played exclusively at third base in his major league career and is hitting .237 with two home runs in 97 at-bats this season.