MLB Player News

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

Kirk will get a breather for the matinee contest after he had started behind the dish the last two days. After being called up from Triple-A Buffalo to replace the injured Tyler Heineman (concussion) on the roster, Ali Sanchez will get the nod at catcher Sunday.

Varsho is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

Varsho looks to be getting a routine breather Sunday after starting each of Toronto's last eight games. Myles Straw will replace Varsho in center field and bat ninth.

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

Jonatan Clase will handle left field in place of Lukes, who had started the last nine games while slashing .231/.333/.462 with two home runs. At least until Andres Gimenez (quadriceps) returns from the injured list, Lukes looks like he'll have a fairly clear runway to consistent playing time. Once Gimenez is back in action, the Blue Jays could elect to shift Ernie Clement from second base to third base on occasion and move Addison Barger from the hot corner to a corner-outfield spot.

The Blue Jays designated Walker for assignment Sunday.

The lefty reliever will give up his spot on the 40-man roster to catcher Ali Sanchez, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday. Walker made three appearances out of the Toronto bullpen earlier this season but has otherwise spent the entire campaign at Buffalo, where he's compiled a 7.20 ERA, 2.10 WHIP and 16:7 K:BB across 10 innings.

The Blue Jays selected Sanchez's contract from Triple-A Buffalo, and he'll start behind the plate and bat eighth Sunday against the Rays.

The 28-year-old inked a minor-league deal with Toronto in December and will now join the big club with Tyler Heineman (concussion) going on the 7-day injured list. Sanchez had a .401 OPS in 96 plate appearances with the Marlins last season. He'll likely see infrequent playing time for the Blue Jays since Alejandro Kirk is locked is as the team's No. 1 backstop.

The Blue Jays placed Heineman on the 7-day injured list Sunday due to a concussion.

Heineman took a couple foul balls off his catcher's mask during Thursday's game against the Padres and reported concussion symptoms Saturday, so he's now in the concussion protocol. Ali Sanchez was added to the big-league roster to serve as Toronto's backup backstop while Heineman is out.

Hummel signed a one-year contract with the Orioles on Sunday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Before opting out of his minor-league deal with the Yankees a few days earlier, Hummel had seen action in 10 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, slashing .258/.415/.290 with no home runs and a stolen base over 41 plate appearances. The switch-hitting Hummel will immediately head to the big leagues with his new organization and could emerge as a short-side platoon player for the Orioles at either designated hitter on in a corner outfield spot.

Kjerstad is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Injuries are beginning to mount in the Baltimore outfield with Ramon Laureano (ankle) and Tyler O'Neill (shoulder) joining Colton Cowser (thumb) on the injured list, which has afforded Kjerstad a longer leash in the everyday lineup. However, despite starting each of the last five games, he's recorded just three hits in 20 at-bats to bring his batting average down to .202 on the season. He'll get Sunday off to clear his head while Jorge Mateo spells him in left field.

The Rangers designated Pillar for assignment Sunday.

The veteran outfielder is being jettisoned from the 26-man active roster and 40-man roster to create room for Alejandro Osuna, who was promoted from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday with Joc Pederson (hand) heading to the injured list. Pillar earned a spot on the Rangers' Opening Day roster and saw action in 20 games, producing a .209/.209/.256 slash line in 43 plate appearances.

Mountcastle is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Mountcastle looks to be getting a rest day after starting six of the Orioles' last seven games, including the second leg of Saturday's doubleheader. Emmanuel Rivera will fill in at first base for Mountcastle, who is slashing .266/.286/.342 with no home runs so far in May.