MLB Player News

Florial is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.

Florial will get a rare off day against a right-handed pitcher, with Jose Ramirez filling in at DH and Gabriel Arias playing third against the Angels' Jose Soriano. Time on the bench against RHP could become more common though, as Florial has stumbled to a .196 batting average and a 40.6 percent strikeout rate through 20 games and 64 plate appearances.

Cowser is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.

Cowser will get a breather Friday as Heston Kjerstad handles left field. Through 30 games, Cowser is slashing .277/.351/.578 with six homers and three stolen bases.

Palacios is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.

Palacios has been an everyday starter for the Rays lately with Jose Siri dealing with a suspension and Josh Lowe (hamstring) on the 10-day IL. However, the newly recalled Jonny DeLuca will fill in at center field Friday.

Paredes (arm) is the designated hitter and batting second for Friday's game against the Mets.

Paredes got the day off Wednesday with some soreness in his arm and body but returns to the Rays lineup in a non-defensive capacity. Considering Friday kicks off a stretch of 19 games in the next 20 days, Paredes' soreness should be monitored but isn't something to be concerned about at the moment.

The Blue Jays optioned Barger to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Barger struggled during his first stint in the big leagues, going just 1-for-18 with a 6:0 K:BB. He'll go back to playing every day with Buffalo while Nathan Lukes takes his spot on Toronto's roster.

The Blue Jays recalled Lukes from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.

The 29-year-old missed out on Toronto's Opening Day roster but will join the big-league club a month into the season. Lukes had a .284/.348/.432 slash line through 20 games for Buffalo this season and will provide outfield depth with Kevin Kiermaier (hip) on the injured list.

DeLuca (hand) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Friday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

DeLuca has missed the first month-plus of 2024 after fracturing his right hand on a hit-by-pitch in spring training, but after a six-game rehab stint at Triple-A Durham, DeLuca will join the big-league roster. The 25-year-old batted .300 in 25 plate appearances and walked four times with one strikeout at Durham. He'll immediately step into the lineup Friday, as he is starting in center field and batting eighth versus the Mets.

Pinto was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Pinto will get an opportunity to re-find his swing at Triple-A after going 2-for-16 (.125) in his last eight games. Alex Jackson was called up in a corresponding move to act as the Rays' secondary catcher.

The Rays optioned Goodrum to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Goodrum was called up by Tampa Bay on April 12, but he appeared in just nine games and went 3-for-16 with a walk and six strikeouts. The 32-year-old could rejoin the Rays later in the campaign if the club requires infield depth.

Hays will work out with Double-A Bowie this weekend, but it's unclear when his rehab assignment will start, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Hays is nursing his way back from a strained left calf, an injury he sustained Apr. 20. While an official start date for his rehab assignment has yet to be announced, it's expected he'll do such at Bowie. Colton Cowser has taken hold of the starting job in left field, so the team has the luxury of not being forced to rush Hays back.