MLB Player News

Caissie is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

The 23-year-old started the first two games of the season and has gone 4-for-8 with two doubles, a stolen base, two RBI and a run scored, but he'll take a seat Sunday with lefty Jose Quintana pitching for Colorado. However, the left-handed-hitting Caissie doesn't seem to be in a strict platoon, given that he started against left-hander Kyle Freeland on Opening Day. Austin Slater will draw the starting nod in right field in the series finale.

Horwitz will start at first base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Mets.

Heading into spring training, the 28-year-old's role was somewhat muddled following the offseason additions of Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe, but Horwitz looks to have settled into a strong-side platoon role at first base. He's occupied the position for the Pirates' first two games against right-handed pitchers, with O'Hearn spelling him Saturday when the Mets sent lefty David Peterson to the hill.

Festa (shoulder) is about two weeks from beginning to pitch off a mound, Twins General Manager Jeremy Zoll told the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Festa recently resumed a throwing program after being shut down in late February due to a right shoulder impingement. However it sounds like he'll need several weeks before he can begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Festa was already coming back from thoracic outlet syndrome, which he dealt with last September, so expect the Twins to be cautious with his return.

Ozuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.

The veteran slugger will receive the afternoon off after he started the Pirates' first two games of the season and went 1-for-9 with a walk. With Ozuna on the bench, Bryan Reynolds will cede left field to Jake Mangum and shift to designated hitter.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough announced that Fairbanks won't be available Sunday against the Rockies after pitching the past two days, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

The club's new closer, who signed a one-year, $13 million contract in late December, fired two scoreless frames and picked up two saves in Miami's first two games of the season. Fairbanks won't be available Sunday after pitching back-to-back days, which is hardly a surprise this early in the campaign. Calvin Faucher, Anthony Bender and Andrew Nardi should be in the mix to fill in as the Marlins' closer should a save situation arise Sunday.

Rojas (hamstring) is scheduled to face hitters in simulated at-bats March 31, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Rojas has started the minor-league season on the Triple-A injured list with a right hamstring strain. The 23-year-old southpaw was acquired from Toronto at the deadline in the Louis Varland deal.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.

It's just a maintenance day for Alvarez after he started the first two games of the season. He's gone 2-for-6 with a walk, a solo home run and an additional run scored. Luis Torrens will catch for righty Nolan McLean on Sunday.

The Reds released Valdez (shoulder) on Thursday.

After sustaining a left shoulder injury in spring training, Valdez had been slated to open the season on the 60-day injured list at Triple-A Louisville. Rather than keeping him in the organization and overseeing his rehab process, the Reds will instead opt to move on. Valdez will look to land a minor-league deal elsewhere.

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

Hayes will give way to Eugenio Suarez at third base in the series finale after he started in the Reds' first two games of the season while going 0-for-7 with a run scored. While Hayes has produced at well-below-league-average levels at the plate each of the past two seasons, his exceptional defense at the hot corner should keep him in the lineup more often than not.

Fraley was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals due to right shoulder soreness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports..

Fraley was set to start in right field and bat third but will now step out of the lineup to tend to an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, which he sustained while attempting to make a diving play in the outfield in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning loss, per Ryan Bass of Rays.tv. Manager Kevin Cash said that he expects Fraley to be OK, but Jonny DeLuca will spell Fraley in right field for Sunday's contest.