MLB Player News

The Blue Jays placed Varsho on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to June 10, with left wrist inflammation.

It's been a week since Varsho started a game, though he has appeared off the bench a few times during that stretch. Ultimately, the outfielder was unable to avoid a trip to the IL, and he will be eligible to return June 20. Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes should handle center field for Toronto while Varsho is out.

The Blue Jays activated Kirk (thumb) from the 60-day injured list Friday.

A broken left thumb sent Kirk to the injured list just five games into the season, but he's ready to rejoin the Blue Jays after fully recovering from surgery to repair the fracture. The 27-year-old went 3-for-18 with a homer and a double during his six-game rehab assignment and should immediately reclaim the starting job behind the plate for Toronto. Brandon Valenzuela will fill the backup job with Tyler Heineman being designated for assignment as part of Friday's transactions.

Nunez is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Mariners.

Nunez will take a seat in the series opener after starting the Nationals' last three games and six of the last seven tilts. Jorbit Vivas will hold down second base for the Nationals.

Taveras is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Padres.

The re-emergence of Colton Cowser has started to cut into Taveras' playing time a bit, as this is the third time he's been out of the lineup over the last 10 games. Cowser is in center field and Tyler O'Neill will play right field Friday for the Orioles.

The Guardians recalled Espino from Triple-A Columbus on Friday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Espino was one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball a few years ago, but his career has been sidetracked by injuries, including a pair of shoulder surgeries. He's moved to the bullpen this season and has finally earned a call-up after collecting a 5.30 ERA and 29:15 K:BB over 18.2 innings with Columbus.

Gasper will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff in Friday's contest versus the Rangers.

Regular leadoff man Jarren Duran has been moved down to the No. 5 spot in the Boston lineup. Gasper is making his sixth straight start, but he's just 2-for-19 at the dish in the first five of those contests.

Duran will start in left field and bat fifth in Friday's game against the Rangers.

It's the first time since April 25 that Duran has batted anywhere other than leadoff. After a strong showing in May during which he put up a .879 OPS with nine home runs and five stolen bases, Duran is just 5-for-33 with no homers, one steal and a 0:14 BB:K so far in June. Mickey Gasper is batting leadoff for the Red Sox on Friday.

Mayer (back/neck) will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Friday's game versus the Rangers.

Mayer was held out of Wednesday's lineup versus the Rays due to back and neck stiffness, but he's feeling better after a team off day Thursday. The 23-year-old is sitting on a .600 OPS with three home runs and three stolen bases this season.

The Padres reinstated Bogaerts (personal) from the paternity list Friday.

The veteran shortstop was placed on the paternity list Tuesday and is now back with the Padres after spending a few days with his family. Bogaerts has a .659 OPS through 63 games this season and has especially struggled early in June, going 3-for-23 with eight strikeouts through the first seven games of the month.

The Padres designated Johnson for assignment Friday.

San Diego needed to clear a spot on its active roster for the return of Xander Bogaerts from paternity leave. Johnson has managed a lowly .178/.229/.222 slash line in 32 games as a part-time outfielder for the Padres this season. There's a good chance the 30-year-old clears waivers, and if that happens he would have the ability to elect free agency.