MLB Player News

McGonigle (ankle) is 2-for-7 with two walks and zero strikeouts through three rehab games with Single-A Lakeland.

He will likely be activated at High-A West Michigan in the coming days after missing five weeks with a right ankle sprain. McGonigle is one of the best pure hitters in the minors and will likely set himself up for a promotion to Double-A Erie, along with Max Clark, sometime this summer.

Festa hasn't pitched at Triple-A St. Paul since May 6 due to right arm fatigue but is expected to make a start this weekend, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

Festa tossed 5.2 innings of one-run ball with a 7:0 K:BB in his May 6 outing but evidently came out of the start nursing some fatigue with his pitching arm. The righty has pitched well both in the majors (1.38 ERA, 15:5 K:BB in 13 innings) and minors (3.60 ERA, 22:2 K:BB in 20 innings) this season and could push for another promotion if he shows the arm fatigue is behind him.

The Twins are expected to recall Matthews from Triple-A St. Paul to start Sunday in Milwaukee, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

Simeon Woods Richardson was optioned to St. Paul on Thursday and the vacancy he leaves in the rotation will be filled by Matthews. The soon-to-be 25-year-old Matthews has been dominant this season at St. Paul, posting a 1.93 ERA and 38:9 K:BB over 32.2 innings covering seven starts. Matthews held a 6.69 ERA in nine outings last season for the Twins but boasted a 43:11 K:BB in 37.2 frames. He should be picked up in fantasy leagues where he's available.

Caballero will start in right field and bat sixth in Thursday's game against the Blue Jays, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

The Rays are including Caballero in the lineup for the seventh time in eight games, with the versatile 28-year-old drawing four starts in right field and one apiece at third base, second base and shortstop during that span. Caballero will likely continue to be fixture in the starting nine against left-handed pitching, but he could soon have to settle for more of a part-time role versus righties. Taylor Walls has seemingly regained a foothold as the Rays' primary shortstop, Josh Lowe (oblique) returned from the injured list Thursday and Yandy Diaz (personal) is on track to return from the restricted list Friday, which will close off three different avenues for Caballero to get consistent playing time when Tampa Bay faces righties.

The Rays placed Jankowski on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left groin strain.

Jankowski was removed from the seventh inning of Wednesday's loss to the Blue Jays due to the injury. He'll be eligible to return May 25, but it's unclear whether he'll be ready to go on that date. With Josh Lowe back from the IL, there might not be a role for Jankowski once he's physically ready to return.

The Rays activated Lowe (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Thursday. He will start at designated hitter and serve as the Rays' leadoff batter in the team's series finale in Toronto, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

The Rays had been expected to wait until Friday to activate Lowe, but with Travis Jankowski (groin) landing on the IL, the club has brought back Lowe a day early. Lowe has been out since late March after straining his oblique Opening Day, but he looked sharp in six rehab games, hitting two home runs and stealing one base with a 6:7 BB:K. Though the 27-year-old will be eased back in Thursday as the team's DH, he should eventually settle in as the Rays' regular right fielder against right-handed pitching.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Wagner has been sidelined recently at Triple-A Buffalo after fouling a ball off his foot, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Wagner hasn't played since Saturday but is expected back in action soon, per Schneider. The infielder is 8-for-30 with two home run in eight games with Buffalo since being optioned there in late April.

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.