MLB Player News

Varsho is out of the lineup for Sunday's game due to shoulder soreness, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

It's the first report of the injury for Varsho, but it makes sense as he hasn't been in the lineup since Tuesday against the Mets. The Blue Jays have a scheduled day off Monday, so the outfielder will have another two full days to rest up before Tuesday's series opener against the Rangers.

Lukes is starting in center field and batting in the leadoff spot for Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals.

Lukes will start in the outfield for a fourth straight game Sunday, and the 30-year-old has been seeing more playing time while Daulton Varsho has been sidelined due to a sore shoulder. He's gone 3-for-10 with one triple and three runs scored over the first two games of the series against St. Louis. In 10 major-league appearances this season, Lukes is slashing .342/.395/.474 with four RBI across 43 plate appearances.

Varsho is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Varsho will sit for a fourth consecutive game, three of which have come against right-handers. The 28-year-old has gone just 4-for-27 with a 37.9 percent strikeout rate since returning from a two-game absence due to a right shoulder injury in early September. Nathan Lukes will start in center field Sunday and bat in the leadoff spot against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas.

Rizzo is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Rizzo started the previous 10 games but will hit the bench Sunday after going 5-for-33 with one double and four walks during that span. Oswaldo Cabrera will take over at first base and bat eighth in the series finale versus Boston.

Springer is absent from Sunday's lineup against St. Louis.

Springer will begin Sunday's game on the bench after going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in the Blue Jays' 7-2 win over the Cardinals on Saturday. Addison Barger will start in right field and bat sixth against St. Louis right-hander Miles Mikolas.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's win over the Angels.

Alvarez launched a two-run, 432-foot home run off Tyler Anderson in his third trip to the plate to give Houston a 3-2 lead, marking the outfielder's second straight game in which he's gone deep. The long ball was his 34th of the campaign and his sixth this month, during which he's now batting .286 (14-for-49) with 13 RBI and seven runs scored. Alvarez has also recorded two RBI in back-to-back contests.

Langford went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's loss to the Mariners.

Langford doubled in his first trip to the plate before drawing a walk and stealing second in the top of the fifth. The theft was his 15th on the campaign and his third this month, during which he's now batting .333 (17-for-51) with three homers, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored. Langford has also hit safely in each of his last five games, posting three extra-base knocks over that stretch.

Refsnyder (wrist) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.

Refsnyder was scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Yankees due to right wrist discomfort, and he has been held out of the starting lineup for the entire four-game series. The Red Sox have a scheduled off day Monday, and the 33-year-old could return to action for Boston's upcoming three-game road series against Tampa Bay. Since the All-Star break, Refsnyder has slashed .267/.313/.505 with seven home runs and 19 RBI across 112 plate appearances.

Scherzer did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Mariners on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over four innings while striking out two.

Scherzer struck out two of the first three batters he faced and got through the opening frame unscathed before allowing three consecutive batters to reach in the second, leading to one run coming across for Seattle. The veteran right-hander then coughed up a leadoff homer to Julio Rodriguez to open the third and was relieved by Jack Leiter after completing four innings. Scherzer's two strikeouts on the night marked his second-lowest total of the season in that category, though the Rangers have to feel good about him walking away from the mound without any setbacks in his first start since returning from the 15-day injured list.

Wells is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Wells worked behind the plate in the first three games of the series and will receive a break in the finale after going 1-for-11 with a walk and four strikeouts. Jose Trevino will do the catching for lefty Carlos Rodon.