MLB Player News
-
Jake Burger 1B | TEX
Rangers' Jake Burger: Taking seat Wednesday
Burger is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Houston.
Burger has swung a hot bat since coming off the injured list earlier this month, but he went 0-for-7 with five strikeouts in the first two games of the series and will now get a day off to regroup. Rowdy Tellez will play first base and bat cleanup as the Rangers try to avoid the sweep.
-
Richard Palacios 2B | TB
Rays' Richie Palacios: Losing hold of platoon role
Palacios is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Palacios seemed to have taken hold of a strong-side platoon role upon his return from the 60-day injured list Sept. 1, but he's now been out of the lineup for three straight matchups versus right-handed pitchers. The Rays will go with Bob Seymour at first base for the second day in a row.
-
Hunter Feduccia C | TB
Rays' Hunter Feduccia: Sitting again Wednesday
Feduccia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Feduccia is on the bench for the third time in four games and for the second time in three matchups versus a right-handed starting pitcher (Kevin Gausman). Nick Fortes appears to have at least moved into a timeshare with Feduccia, if he hasn't already overtaken him as the Rays' preferred option behind the plate.
-
Christopher Morel 1B | MIA
Rays' Christopher Morel: Cleared to start Wednesday
Morel (abdomen) will start in left field and bat cleanup Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Morel is back in the starting nine for the first time since Sunday, when he exited the Rays' 4-3 loss to the Cubs early due to an abdominal contusion. He drew a walk in a pinch-hit appearance during Tuesday's 6-5 loss and will now check back into the lineup to make a rare start against a right-handed pitcher (Kevin Gausman).
-
Kyle Finnegan RP | DET
Tigers' Kyle Finnegan: Cleared for rehab appearance
Finnegan (groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Finnegan has missed most of September with a right adductor strain but has been cleared to test things out in a game setting. Given his brief absence, it could be the only rehab appearance Finnegan needs before returning to the Tigers' active roster. He's made 12 scoreless appearances and recorded four saves since being acquired by Detroit at the trade deadline.
-
Nathan Lukes RF | TOR
Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Exiting starting nine
Lukes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
With southpaw Ian Seymour toeing the rubber, the left-handed-hitting Lukes will hit the bench after he started in right field in both of the first two contests of the series. Addison Barger will shift from third base to cover right field in Lukes' stead Wednesday.
-
Daulton Varsho CF | TOR
Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Sitting against southpaw
Varsho is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
With lefty Ian Seymour on the hill for Tampa Bay, Varsho will be joined on the bench by fellow left-handed batters Nathan Lukes, Joey Loperfido and Andres Gimenez as the Blue Jays stack the lineup with right-handed bats. Myles Straw will spell Varsho in center field.
-
Andres Gimenez SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Andres Gimenez: Resting against southpaw
Gimenez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
After making starts out of the middle infield in each of the Blue Jays' last eight games, the left-handed-hitting Gimenez will retreat to the bench while the Rays send southpaw Ian Seymour to the bump. Toronto will go with Davis Schneider at second base and Ernie Clement at shortstop Wednesday.
-
Tyler Mahle SP | SF
Rangers' Tyler Mahle: Drawing start Friday
Mahle (shoulder) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Marlins in Arlington, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Mahle will be making his first appearance in the majors since early June, as the right-hander has been shelved for more than three months due to a right shoulder strain. He made three rehab starts, going four shutout innings with six strikeouts in his most recent outing with Triple-A Round Rock last Friday. Mahle threw only 52 pitches in that start, so he will have a limited workload Friday.
-
Payton Tolle SP | BOS
Red Sox's Payton Tolle: Shifting to bullpen role
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Tolle will be used out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Connelly Early is remaining in the rotation and Kyle Harrison will join the rotation this weekend, leaving Tolle to fill a relief role the rest of the way. All three of Tolle's appearances for the Red Sox to this point have come as a starter, and he's posted a 7.84 ERA and 12:6 K:BB over 10.1 innings.