MLB Player News

Lukes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.

Toronto has now used three different starters in left field and in the No. 2 spot in the batting order in its first three games, with Jesus Sanchez receiving the nod Sunday after Lukes got the Opening Day nod and Davis Schneider started Saturday against lefty Jeffrey Springs. Schneider is the preferred short-side platoon option of the trio, but Lukes and Sanchez may be stuck in a timeshare against righties unless one of them gets hot at the plate.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.

He'll get a breather after starting behind the plate in the Blue Jays' first two games of the season and going 1-for-9 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run. Tyler Heineman will step in behind the dish, forming a battery with Eric Lauer.

Rafaela is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Rafaela went 3-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored in the first two games of the season and will receive a day off for Sunday's series finale in Cincinnati. Jarren Duran will shift to center field while Roman Anthony receives a turn at designated hitter.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that he would be "surprised" if Estevez is available out of the bullpen for Sunday's game in Atlanta, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Estevez was seen wearing a walking boot Sunday after taking a line drive off his left ankle Saturday, when he suffered a blown save after allowing six earned runs while recording just one out in the Royals' 6-2 loss. Though Estevez been diagnosed with nothing more than a contusion after getting X-rays on his ankle, the Royals appear content to stay away from the 33-year-old reliever, at least for one day. Per Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City, Quatraro added that he's "not averse to putting [Estevez] in a lower-leverage situation" once he's deemed available, which suggests that the right-hander may not have a stranglehold on the closer's gig after Saturday's blowup. Before the rough showing in his season debut, Estevez was coming off a discouraging spring training in which he noticed a steep decline in his velocity.

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

McNeil went 1-for-7 with a walk, a stolen base and a run while starting the first two games of the season, but he'll hit the bench Sunday against lefty Eric Lauer. Darell Hernaiz will instead start at the keystone in the series finale.

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

The 25-year-old went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Opening Day and made a defensive miscue after shifting from right field to center that led to an Andres Gimenez triple, and Butler now finds himself on the bench for a second consecutive contest. He sat against Toronto righty Dylan Cease on Saturday, but it's lefty Eric Lauer on the bump for the home team Sunday. Denzel Clarke is back in center Sunday while Brent Rooker starts in right field, allowing catcher Shea Langeliers to receive some rest as the designated hitter.

Carter is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Though manager Skip Schumaker left the door open in spring training for Carter to see more opportunities versus southpaws in 2026, the outfielder has now been held out of the lineup for the Rangers' first two matchups against lefties. Wyatt Langford will slide over from left field to cover center field against Jesus Luzardo.

Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Smith served as a super-utility player in 2025, but he'll have a more permanent home at second base this season after the Rangers traded Marcus Semien to the Mets over the winter. The left-handed-hitting Smith will still be shielded from southpaws after he produced a lowly 47 wRC+ in 121 plate appearances in that split last year. Ezequiel Duran will get the nod at second base Sunday while southpaw Jesus Luzardo toes the rubber.

Jansen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Jansen drew starts in the first two contests of the season, but he'll get a chance to catch his breath while Texas closes out its series in Philadelphia with a day game. Though Kyle Higashioka will receive the nod at catcher Sunday, Jansen looks to be the preferred option behind the plate.

Collins is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.

After starting the first two contests of the season and going 0-for-6 with a walk and two strikeouts, Collins will hit the bench for the series finale in Atlanta. Lane Thomas will step in for Collins in left field.