MLB Player News

Lugo, who is on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Salt Lake due to an undisclosed injury, has not played since Aug. 2.

He made a strong first impression, going 2-for-5 with a home run and a double in his first game for the Bees after getting traded to the Angels from the Red Sox at the deadline as part of the return for reliever Luis Garcia. However, Lugo has not seen the field since that debut game. Depending on the injury, the trade should make it easier for the 23-year-old left fielder to get a look in the majors either late this season or early next season. He is slashing .287/.376/.578 with a 23.6 percent strikeout rate, a 10.2 percent walk rate, 17 home runs and 16 steals in 79 games split between Double-A and Triple-A.

Loperfido is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Oakland.

Loperfido started the previous three games but will sit Sunday as lefty JP Sears takes the mound for the Athletics. Davis Schneider will move to left field while Luis De Los Santos receives a start in the field.

Rice is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Rice will sit for the fourth time in the past five contests, with Sunday's contest being the third of those against a left-handed pitcher (Andrew Heaney). DJ LeMahieu will man first base and bat ninth in the series finale.

The Rangers designated Burke for assignment Sunday.

The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster and in the big-league bullpen for right-hander Matt Festa, who was called up from Triple-A Round Rock. Since breaking his right hand in April and missing two months of action, Burke struggled to bounce back upon returning from the shelf. Over his eight appearances with Texas since being activated, Burke posted a 7.59 ERA and 1.88 WHIP across 10.2 innings.

The Rangers placed Sborz on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right shoulder fatigue.

Sborz's placement on IL is retroactive to Thursday, so he'll be eligible for activation as soon as Aug. 23. The right-hander has been a key setup man for the Rangers when available this season but had struggled of late, giving up a run in three of his last five appearances. Texas called up right-hander Matt Festa from Triple-A Round Rock to take Sborz's spot in the bullpen.

The Rangers recalled Pennington from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

Pennington will replace fellow left-hander Brock Burke in the Texas bullpen after the Rangers designated Burke for assignment. Acquired from the Royals on July 29 in the deal that sent right-hander Michael Lorenzen to Kansas City, Pennington previously made his Rangers debut last Sunday against the Red Sox, working one inning while giving up an earned run on one hit and three walks. He'll likely occupy a low-leverage role during his upcoming stint with Texas.

The Rangers selected Festa's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

He'll join the big-league bullpen as a replacement for right-hander Josh Sborz, who was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder fatigue. After signing a minor-league contract with the Rangers in July, Festa made six appearances for Round Rock and gave up one earned run on six hits and three walks while striking out 13 batters over 8.2 innings.

The Mariners are expected to activate Rodriguez (ankle) from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Mets, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

Rodriguez has been on the IL since July 23 due to a right high-ankle sprain, which he suffered two days earlier when he collided with the outfield fence. The 23-year-old didn't go out on a minor-league rehab assignment, but he demonstrated enough progress with his running in recent days for the Mariners to feel comfortable with bringing him back ahead of Sunday's series finale. According to Olney, Rodriguez will serve as the Mariners' designated hitter Sunday, and it's unclear when he might be ready to take back an everyday role in center field. Though Rodriguez has endured a disappointing season overall, he began to find his stride at the plate before suffering the injury, producing a 1.281 OPS over his last nine games.

Heim is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.

Though he started in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader before bowing out of the lineup for the nightcap, Heim will get another breather Sunday as the Rangers wrap up their series in New York. Carson Kelly will handle the catching duties, forming a battery with starting pitcher Andrew Heaney.

Sogard will start at third base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Astros, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Sogard will stick in the lineup for a sixth consecutive game, this time manning third base while Rafael Devers gets a rare rest day. The rookie's previous five starts came at second base and shortstop, and the Red Sox should continue to have a near-everyday role available for Sogard in the infield while he's swinging a hot bat and while Tyler O'Neill (lower leg) is on the shelf.