MLB Player News
-
Daulton Varsho CF | TOR
Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Sitting again Sunday
Varsho (hand) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Varsho was hit by a pitch on the right hand Friday and was diagnosed with a contusion after X-rays came back negative, and he'll be held out of the starting nine Sunday for a second straight game. The 29-year-old was reportedly available off the bench for Saturday's contest but didn't appear in the game, and he'll presumably be available in that capacity again Sunday.
-
Hogan Harris RP | ATH
Athletics' Hogan Harris: Scoreless streak continues
Harris allowed a hit and no walks with no strikeouts over a scoreless inning in Saturday's 9-3 loss to the Rangers.
While the Athletics' pitching staff struggled in Saturday's loss, Harris turned in a clean outing when called upon in the fifth inning. The left-hander has pieced together a scoreless August, tossing 10 innings across eight outings, a sharp improvement on the 4.35 ERA and 1.65 WHIP he carried over 41.1 innings in 30 big-league appearances through July.
-
Ernie Clement 3B | TOR
Blue Jays' Ernie Clement: Rejoining lineup Sunday
Clement (finger/shin) will start at third base and bat sixth Sunday against the Brewers.
Clement was held out of the starting nine the past couple days due to a hairline finger fracture and a laceration to his left shin, but he's ready to rejoin the lineup for Sunday's series finale. The 29-year-old's average has dipped in August as he's batting .247 in 24 games, though he still has a .729 OPS this month thanks to four home runs.
-
Romy Gonzalez 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Drawing fourth straight start
Gonzalez will start at second base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Gonzalez will stick in the lineup for a fourth straight game, occupying the keystone for the first time during that stretch as Nathaniel Lowe returns from the paternity list. Though Gonzalez has been at his best against left-handed pitching this season with a .977 OPS in 122 plate appearances, he's been serviceable against righties with a .273/.296/.414 slash line over 135 PAs. The Red Sox could prioritize Gonzalez over David Hamilton at second base until Wilyer Abreu (calf) returns from the injured list, which would push Ceddanne Rafaela to the infield on a more frequent basis.
-
David Hamilton 2B | BOS
Red Sox's David Hamilton: On bench against righty
Hamilton is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Though Hamilton has posted a 1.053 OPS in six games since being called up from Triple-A Worcester on Aug. 21, the Red Sox aren't yet ready to give him consistent playing time. He'll be on the bench for a second straight matchup with a right-handed starter (Mitch Keller), clearing the way for Romy Gonzalez to shift from first base to the keystone in Nathaniel Lowe's return from the paternity list.
-
Stephen Kolek SP | KC
Royals' Stephen Kolek: Returns to Triple-A
The Royals optioned Kolek to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
The right-hander was called up for a spot start Saturday and allowed just one run over six innings in a no-decision against Detroit, but he won't stick on the big-league roster with Michael Wacha returning from the paternity list Sunday. Kolek could rejoin the big club down the stretch, but he may have a difficult time finding a spot in the Kansas City rotation while all of Wacha, Seth Lugo, Michael Lorenzen, Noah Cameron and Ryan Bergert are available.
-
Edouard Julien 1B | MIN
Twins' Edouard Julien: On bench for third straight
Julien is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.
The Twins have now left Julien out of the lineup for three consecutive contests, which follows a stretch of four straight starts in which he went 2-for-13 with a double and three walks. Julien has produced a poor .545 OPS since getting called up from Triple-A St. Paul on Aug. 1 and may play second fiddle to Kody Clemens at first base in September.
-
Trevor Larnach DH | MIN
Twins' Trevor Larnach: Resting Sunday
Larnach is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.
The Padres are having right-hander David Morgan open the contest, but since lefty Kyle Hart is projected to work in bulk relief, Larnach will take a seat. His absence will open up the DH spot for Byron Buxton.
-
Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Activated for Sunday's start
The Royals reinstated Wacha (personal) from the paternity list to start Sunday's game against the Tigers.
The right-hander has been away from the team for the past couple days to be with his growing family, but he's back with the Royals for his usual turn through the rotation Sunday versus Detroit. Wacha will look to maintain his strong form through five August starts, as he has a 2.87 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB over 31.1 innings this month.
-
Tyler Holton RP | DET
Tigers' Tyler Holton: Takes loss in relief
Holton (5-4) allowed two runs on a hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Saturday against the Royals.
Holton served up the key hit Saturday, a two-run home run by Bobby Witt in the bottom of the eighth inning that proved to be decisive in a 3-1 Kansas City victory. It wasn't a great matchup for the lefty reliever, as he has better numbers against same-handed hitters, and Witt crushes southpaws to the tune of a .934 OPS. Despite the setback, Holton still has a serviceable 3.84 ERA across 65.2 innings this season, and he remains part of Detroit's high-leverage crew.