MLB Player News

Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig, left fielder Carl Crawford, catcher Yasmani Grandal and third baseman Juan Uribe are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Rockies.

Puig was able to return from a tight hamstring Saturday and go 2 for 3 with a walk, but manager Don Mattingly said that the outfielder had a noticeable limp while playing nine innings. Crawford is out of the lineup for the second straight day due to illness. Uribe and Grandal are sitting for the first time in four games.

With several starters sidelined, Justin Turner will bat second and play third base, Andre Ethier will bat fifth and start in right field, Scott Van Slyke will start in left field and bat sixth and A.J. Ellis will start behind the plate and bat eighth against Rockies right-hander Eddie Butler.

Despite the multiple absences, the Dodgers are heavy favorites (-165) Sunday.

Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar is not in the team's lineup for Sunday's game. Escobar was questionable with a sore knee.

He'll be replaced in the lineup by Christian Colon, who will bat eighth. 

Michael Brantley starts his second straight game in left field for the Indians, on Sunday. Brantley, who battled injury earlier in the month, is hitting third in the Indians' lineup. 

David Murphy gets his third straight start at three different positions. After playing left and right field the last two days, Murphy gets the start at DH, batting sixth.

The Athletics gave several regulars a rest for Sunday's day game. 

Catcher Stephen Vogt, first baseman Ike Davis, center fielder Sam Fuld and second baseman Eric Sogard were all out of Sunday's starting lineup. 

Josh Phegley gets the start at catcher, batting sixth in the order. Ben Zobrist will play second base, batting third. 

Mark Canha moves from left field to first base, replacing Davis. Cody Ross gets the start in left, batting fifth. 

Craig Gentry gets the call in center, batting leadoff. 

With Jose Reyes out for the weekend with a rib injury, Ryan Goins got the start for the Blue Jays at shortstop on Sunday.

Goins will bat ninth for the game against Atlanta. 

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon has a goal this season: see more pitches at the plate, reports MLB.com. Blackmon is currently on a career-high pace at the plate with a .263 batting average in 10 games. He credits it to his patience at the plate early on.

"I started trying to see a few more pitches in spring training," Blackmon said. "I'm better deep in the count. It's better for the team to go deeper in the count. As a leadoff hitter you give your guys more chance to see the other pitcher's arsenal, and maybe earn a walk here or there."

Sometimes, Blackmon will take cuts just to keep pitchers from finding a rhythm.

"There will be times I'll be very aggressive to keep pitchers honest," he said. "That's by design. I don't always try to see 4.13 pitches. If I notice teams fall into a pattern one way or another, I'll come out of that and start hacking."

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. 

Bryce Harper hit his fourth home run of the season in the Nationals' 5-3 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. 

Harper went 2 for 3 with a walk and a game-tying solo homer in the fifth inning. Harper is hitting .279 with seven RBI. 

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.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter is off to a fast start, and he thinks he's back to his MVP form of two years ago.

"I feel as close to if not better than I felt in 2013," Carpenter said, per MLB.com. "Everything is kind of clicking right now." 

Carpenter is hitting .378 with a home run, six doubles and seven RBI. His OPS is 1.061.