MLB Player News

Varsho is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays.

The Blue Jays have been careful not to overload Varsho since he returned from the injured list April 29, as this is his fourth day off since that date and he also missed an additional game with lower-back tightness. He should be back in the lineup Friday versus the Tigers. Myles Straw is in center field and batting eighth Thursday.

The Orioles optioned McDermott to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

McDermott was up as the 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Twins, starting the second game and allowing four runs over three innings. The right-hander will rejoin the rotation at Norfolk and wait for another opportunity with the big club.

Meidroth is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.

Meidroth will get some rest in Thursday's day game after he had started in each of the last four games while going 4-for-16 with a double, two walks, two runs and one RBI. Jacob Amaya will replace Meidroth at shortstop in the series finale in Cincinnati, while third baseman Miguel Vargas elevates to the leadoff spot.

Elko is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.

After getting his first big-league call-up Saturday, Elko had started at first base or designated hitter in each of the White Sox's ensuing four games, going 2-for-14 with a home run and three RBI. The White Sox will likely continue to carve out at least a semi-regular role for Elko in the short term, though he'll still be subject to occasional days off versus right-handed pitching.

Quero is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.

Quero will get a breather for the day game after he started at catcher in both of the first two games of the series in Cincinnati. Matt Thaiss will receive a turn behind the dish, forming a battery with starting pitcher Bryse Wilson.

Urias is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.

After a week-and-a-half-long absence due to a hamstring strain, Urias made his return from the injured list Wednesday. He started at third base and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored during Baltimore's 6-3 loss in the first game of a doubleheader, then sat out a 8-6 loss in the second game. Emmanuel Rivera will receive a second straight start at the hot corner Thursday as the Orioles wrap up their series with the Twins, but Urias could see the bulk of the starts at the position once he's further removed from the hamstring injury.

Laureano is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.

Laureano will hit the bench for the series finale after he had started in each of the Orioles' last three contests, including both ends of Wednesday's doubleheader. Heston Kjerstad will get the nod in left field Thursday, but Laureano owns a nearly 100-point edge in OPS over Kjerstad on the season and may be the Orioles' preferred option at the position now that the team no longer has corner-outfield spots available for both players following Tyler O'Neill's recent return from the injured list.

Bader is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles after exiting in the third inning of the Twins' 8-6 win in the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday due to left groin tightness, MLB.com reports.

Bader started both contests of the twin bill, going a collective 2-for-6 with a double and an RBI before being lifted due to the groin issue. DaShawn Keirsey will pick up a start in left field Thursday in place of Bader, whom the Twins are viewing as day-to-day heading into their weekend series in MIlwaukee.

France (foot) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.

On Wednesday, France exited in the fifth inning of the Twins' 6-3 win in the first game of a doubleheader due to a left foot contusion, then was withheld from action in the 8-6 win over the Orioles later on that day. The Twins are continuing to view France as day-to-day, but he'll miss out on a second straight start as the team wraps up its series in Baltimore. Kody Clemens will fill in for France at first base.

The Twins optioned Woods Richardson to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.

Rather than sending the 27th man from Wednesday's doubleheader (reliever Kody Funderburk) back to Triple-A, the Twins will instead demote Woods Richardson, who struggled mightily in his start in the second game of the twin bill. Woods Richardson coughed up a season-high six earned runs over four innings in an 8-6 win over Baltimore, leaving him with a 5.02 ERA and 1.54 WHIP over 37.2 innings on the season. The 24-year-old righty will presumably get another look in the Minnesota rotation later on in the season, but the Twins will likely turn to David Festa or Zebby Matthews to replace Woods Richardson the next time a fifth starter is needed this weekend in MIlwaukee.