MLB Player News

The Royals are expected to transfer Long's rehab assignment from the rookie-level Arizona Complex League to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Long has been on the injured list since April 13 due to left elbow inflammation but made his return to game action with the Royals' ACL affiliate Tuesday, when he struck out a batter and allowed one run on two hits and no walks. The southpaw will face a stiffer challenge as he shifts his rehab to the Triple-A level, where he'll likely make at least a handful of appearances before the Royals activate him. Once he's reinstated, Long is likely to fill a low-leverage role out of the Kansas City bullpen.

LeMahieu is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rangers.

LeMahieu has been the Yankees' primary second baseman since returning from the 10-day injured list last week, but he'll get a breather for Thursday's series finale. Jorbit Vivas is covering the keystone and Oswald Peraza is at the hot corner.

Wells is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Wells will get a breather for Thursday's matinee after he caught all nine innings of Wednesday's 4-3 win while going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. He remains entrenched as the Yankees' No. 1 catcher, but Wells is in the midst of a bit of a rough patch at the plate, having slashed .129/.256/.290 with a 30.8 percent strikeout rate over his last 11 games.

Rice is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Rangers.

Although he had started the previous two games, Rice has seen his playing time dip recently, as this is his fifth time absent from the lineup across the last 11 tilts. Aaron Judge is in the designated-hitter spot Thursday, and the Yankees will roll out Jasson Dominguez, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger in the outfield.

Heineman will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Padres.

With a .949 OPS to go with two stolen bases over 47 plate appearances on the season, Heineman has made the most of his limited opportunities, but he's still unlikely to see a dramatic surge in playing time in the near future. Alejandro Kirk is locked in as the Blue Jays' clear No. 1 backstop and should require just one or two days off per week, with most of his absences from the lineup coming in day games after night games.

The Yankees recalled Headrick from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.

Headrick has given up four earned runs in 9.2 innings with an 8:4 K:BB during his time in Triple-A this season. With Ryan Yarbrough needed in the rotation, Headrick will give manager Aaron Boone a second lefty in the bullpen.

Straw will start in center field and bat eighth in Thursday's game against the Padres.

With George Springer receiving the day off and Daulton Varsho serving as Toronto's designated hitter while Anthony Santander (hip) takes a seat, the Blue Jays will have room in the outfield for Straw in the series finale. Straw will be getting his first start since last Thursday after logging just three at-bats off the bench over the Blue Jays' subsequent five games.

The Yankees placed Cruz on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right shoulder inflammation.

Cruz felt a tug in his right trap area recently, which had left him unavailable to pitch. An MRI ruled out structural damage, but he was given a cortisone injection to combat inflammation. According to Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record, Cruz was able to throw off flat ground Thursday despite landing on the IL, so he should have a good chance at being ready to go when he's first eligible for activation June 3.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.

With the Yankees sending a left-handed starter (Carlos Rodon) to the hill for the second straight day, the left-handed-hitting Pederson will once again remain out of the lineup. Despite facing right-handers in all but nine of his plate appearances on the season, Pederson is still batting just .127, the lowest average among all players in the majors with at least 140 plate appearances. Pederson has struck out at a palatable 19.9 percent clip and has been the victim of a .148 BABIP, so expect the 33-year-old's production to eventually pick up once his batted-ball luck improves.

Kirk is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres.

Kirk started the previous three contests behind the plate, so he'll get a breather for Thursday's matinee. Tyler Heineman will catch and bat ninth for the Blue Jays.