MLB Player News

The Rangers optioned Burger to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Burger has hit just .190 with a 29.6 percent strikeout rate across his first 108 plate appearances this season, so the Rangers have elected to send him to Round Rock for a while to get his swing in order. The expectation is that he will eventually regain his starting job at first base with the big club, but there's no timeline for when that might happen. For now, the Rangers could use a combination of Blaine Crim, Josh Smith, Joc Pederson and Dustin Harris at first base.

The Rangers selected Crim's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Crim has slashed .313/.365/.565 with seven home runs this season at Round Rock, although it's his third year there and he will turn 28 next month. He could see regular reps at first base while Jake Burger tries to get his swing straightened out at Round Rock.

The Royals transferred Marsh (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Luke Maile. Marsh re-started a throwing program last week after being shut down for a bit, but he will need several weeks to ramp up, so the move to the 60-day IL doesn't alter his timetable.

The Royals optioned Tolbert to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Tolbert has been with the big club nearly all season but has accrued only five plate appearances. Catcher Luke Maile is taking his spot on the active roster.

The Royals selected Maile's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Salvador Perez (hip) is banged up, so Maile is up to provide protection at catcher. Maile is a career .208/.274/.319 hitter over parts of nine big-league seasons.

Vivas is starting at second base and batting ninth Friday against the Rays, and he's expected to receive regular playing time after Jazz Chisholm (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

Vivas was up with the Yankees last summer and earlier this season, but he didn't see the field during his brief stints with the big club. The 24-year-old is making his MLB debut Friday, and it appears he'll get a chance to showcase himself while Chisholm is sidelined for the next 4-to-6 weeks. Vivas has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with two homers, six steals and a .319/.426/.436 slash line in 26 contests.

Renfroe is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.

Renfroe will come off the bench for the fourth time in the last five games and appears to be falling into a reserve role for the Royals. Drew Waters is making the start in right field and batting seventh against starter Dean Kremer. Renfroe is off to a miserable start at the plate this season, slashing .167/.243/.197 with no home runs, four RBI, and a 7:16 BB:K across 74 plate appearances.

Perez (hip) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.

Perez exited Thursday's game against the Rays with left hip soreness and will get at least one day off. With Perez sits, Freddy Fermin will catch and bat eighth, while Mark Canha starts at designated hitter and hits sixth for Kansas City.

Manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Chisholm was diagnosed with a high-grade strain of his right oblique and is expected to be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

The 27-year-old Chisholm sustained the injury Tuesday against the Orioles and landed on the 10-day injured list earlier Friday. Significant oblique injuries often have multi-month recovery timelines, so a return in four weeks seems optimistic for a high-grade strain. Jorbit Vivas is making his MLB debut at second base Friday versus the Rays and is expected to get regular playing time while Chisholm is out, at least initially.

Lowe is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees.

With left-hander Max Fried on the mound for the Yankees, Lowe will take a seat. Curtis Mead is getting the start at second base and batting eighth. Lowe is hitting .209/.248/.318 with four home runs, 15 RBI, nine runs scored and a 6:31 BB:K across 117 plate appearances to begin the season.