MLB Player News

Schneider went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's loss to the Padres.

Schneider went deep off Joe Musgrove in the second inning for this first home run since April 2 and later plated another run in the seventh on a groundout. Sunday's home run was also Schneider's first extra-base hit since April 12, and he's now slashing .227/.292/.477 with three homers, 10 RBI, seven runs and a 3:12 BB:K in 48 plate appearances.

Bassitt (2-3) took the loss Sunday against the Padres after allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out four in 5.1 innings.

Bassitt allowed an unearned run off an error in the opening frame before Xander Bogaerts got a hold of one in the third. Bassitt battled into the sixth but would exit early after allowing a one-out walk and a single, with both runs eventually coming around to score. Bassitt mentioned after the game that he and about 20 other members of the Blue Jays are battling a sinus infection right now and he tried to fight through it as best he could but noted he didn't have his best stuff, per Kyle Glaser, a sports media professional at USC's School of Business. The 35-year-old now owns a 3.90 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 26:14 K:BB in 27.2 innings and lines up for a start against the Dodgers his next time out.

Kopech threw a scoreless inning during which he didn't allow a baserunner and struck out two Sunday against the Phillies.

Kopech made his first appearance since blowing a save chance Wednesday. While it wasn't in a save situation, Kopech was nevertheless impressive, retiring the side on 13 pitches while generating three swinging strikes. He's now turned in six scoreless performances in nine appearances this season, also maintaining a 17:6 K:BB across 11.1 innings.

Jimenez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Sunday against the Phillies.

Jimenez tallied his first RBI of the season Saturday and then proceeded to smack his first home run of the campaign in the opening frame of Sunday's contest. He has been sidelined for much of the season by an adductor injury but is showing signs of getting on track at the plate for the first time.

Mead went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases Sunday against the Yankees.

Mead has been quiet since taking over the primary second base job with Brandon Lowe (oblique) sidelined, as he's gone just 8-for-40 with no extra-base hits. However, he enjoyed a productive Sunday, tallying an RBI single in the eighth inning while also recording the first stolen bases of his big-league career. Despite his struggles, Mead's playing time appears relatively safe, as he's started 11 of the last 13 games for the Rays.

Mullins went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Royals.

Mullins was caught stealing after reaching on a fielder's choice in the second inning, but he tried again with success in the fourth. His 10-game hitting streak ended Saturday with an 0-for-1 effort off the bench, but he's still providing quality at-bats from the bottom half of the order. The center fielder is now slashing .269/.311/.522 with five home runs, four steals, 15 RBI, 15 runs scored and two doubles over 74 plate appearances this season.

Martin went 1-for-4 with a home run in Sunday's loss to Detroit. He has a seven-game hitting streak and is 9-for-28 over that span.

Martin is hitting .268 with a .758 OPS in 15 games this season. While that's not an overly impressive line, it still stands out amid a struggling Twins lineup. Martin may have an everyday role in left field while he's hot.

Cowser went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Royals.

Cowser had gone 3-for-14 with no extra-base hits and seven strikeouts over his previous five games. The outfielder opened the scoring in Sunday's contest, the first of back-to-back homers for the Orioles in the third inning. Cowser is up to five long balls, 16 RBI, nine runs scored, six doubles and three stolen bases while slashing .373/.411/.784 through 56 plate appearances. Austin Hays is dealing with calf tightness, so Cowser's short-term playing time should be steady.

Westburg went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a triple, a walk and two total RBI in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Royals.

Westburg is up to a nine-game hitting streak, going 16-for-35 (.457) with three homers and 10 RBI in that span. The 25-year-old is thriving in a near-everyday role, often playing at third base versus right-handed pitchers and at second base against southpaws. He's up to five homers, 18 RBI, 14 runs scored and three stolen bases while slashing .333/.392/.639 through 80 plate appearances. Westburg launched just three homers in 68 major-league games a year ago.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli wouldn't commit to Varland making another turn in the Minnesota rotation after Sunday's 6-1 loss to Detroit, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The lack of commitment from the Twins comes as little surprise after Varland gave up four runs in 2.2 innings Sunday and now owns a 9.18 ERA and 2.16 WHIP through four starts. Varland is likely to head to Triple-A St. Paul in the near future, though he could move to the bullpen. Simeon Woods Richardson is the most likely candidate to enter the rotation if the Twins choose to pull the plug on Varland as their No. 5 starter.