MLB Player News

The Royals recalled infielder Orlando Calixte and optioned outfielder Reymond Fuentes down to Triple-A Omaha, per the Kansas City Star. Calixte began the minor-league season with a .154 batting average (4 for 26) with two walks, three runs scored, a double, a home run and an RBI in seven games.

The move gives Kansas City infield depth after Alcides Escobar went down with a left knee sprain and contusion. Christian Colon got the start at shortstop in Escobar's place on Saturday. 

White Sox starter Chris Sale improved to 2-0 on Saturday with six strong innings against the Tigers.

Sale allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six to earn the victory.

J.D. Martinez connected for a solo homer off Sale.

"Man, yeah, It really takes all the pressure off," Sale said about his run support. "You still have to perform and get through it. I don't think I've ever seen 12 runs before. It was impressive."

Sale's next start is schedule for Thursday against the Royals.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley (back) returned to the lineup on Friday after missing four games with a bad back, going 2 for 5 as the designated hitter.

Brantley had been out since April 10 with a back injury.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley returned to the starting lineup Friday against the Twins after missing four starts due to a back injury. However, Brantley returned as the DH on Friday, with David Murphy getting the start in left field.

Mike Pelfrey is on the hill Friday for Minnesota. Brantley is batting just .100 (1 for 10) with one walk in his career against the right-hander.

The Indians are favored (-135) in Friday's game, per VegasInsider.com.

Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes has been all the Tigers could have envisioned early this season after trading for him in December. All they were waiting for was a home run.

He took care of that business Friday and it proved critical. His blast off White Sox standout Jeff Samardzija in the fourh inning tied the game and allowed Detroit to win it in the ninth.

Cespedes, who served as a designated hitter for the first time, now boasts a slash line of .302/.318/.512 and has hit safely in eight of 10 games.

Blue Jays infielder Ryan Goins started at shortstop Friday vs. Atlanta in place of the injured Jose Reyes, who could be headed to the disabled list with a fractured rib. Goins and Steve Tolleson are expected to fill in at shortstop for however long Reyes is sidelined.

Goins is 1 for 3 with one walk and one strikeout in one game since his recall from the minors.

The Red Sox made outfielder Yoenis Cespedes a preliminary offer on a contract extension before trading him to the Tigers in the offseason, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

However, Red Sox personnel see Cespedes as "a businessman," which translates into Boston seeing it very unlikely Cespedes was going to sign before free agency, according to Heyman. 

There is no word on if the Tigers are making progress on a contract extension for Cespedes, who will be a free agent after the 2015 season. The 29-year-old outfielder is batting .308 (12 for 39) with one triple, four doubles and three RBI in nine games.

Twins first baseman Kennys Vargas didn't just hit a home run Thursday against Kansas City. He sent a missile off the facade of the second deck.

The baseball left the yard in quite a hurry and tied a game Minnesota eventually won. The homer gave his team momentum, but it also opened a few eyes.

"It was fast, yeah," Vargas told ESPN about the speed in which the ball rocketed out. "The first base coach, he told me, like, 'Wow! I've never seen that.'"

Vargas added a single to raise his batting average to .250 on the year.

When the Twins and Indians open a three-game series Friday, Cleveland will be sending ace Corey Kluber to the mound. Twins DH Kennys Vargas and third baseman Trevor Plouffe have fairly good history against the 2014 AL Cy Young award winner.

Vargas went 4 for 11 (.364) with one double, one home run and two RBI against Kluber last season, while Plouffe is batting .360 (9 for 25) with one double, two home runs and seven RBI in his career against Kluber.

Kluber is 4-2 with a 4.01 ERA in 10 career starts against the Twins. He went 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts against the AL Central foe last season and is 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA in five starts at Target Field.

The Blue Jays recalled second baseman Ryan Goins from Triple-A Buffalo and designated pitcher Todd Redmond for assignment, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.

Goins hit .188 in 67 games last season for Toronto. He batted .350 (7 for 20) in six games for the Bisons. Redmond posted a whopping 16.62 ERA in 4 1/3 innings of work to start the season.