MLB Player News

Torkelson is out of the lineup for the first game of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.

Torkelson will take a seat for the first game of the twin bill, but he'll most likely return to the starting nine for the nightcap. Colt Keith will get the nod at first base in the early game.

Dunn batted leadoff and went 2-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against St. Louis.

After batting seventh in the matinee and going 1-for-3, Dunn played hero in extra innings in the nightcap. He made a sliding catch in the top of the 11th to save a run, and then walked off the Cardinals in the bottom of the inning when his fielder's choice against five infielders plated the winning run. He was getting his first crack at leading off for the Reds, who have been cycling through several players since TJ Friedl was removed from those duties. Prior to Saturday's second game, Matt McLain, Will Benson and JJ Bleday had all been deployed atop the order of late. Dunn has hit safely in six consecutive starts, going 10-for-23 with two extra-base hits and one RBI during that stretch.

Garcia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Garcia will head to the bench for the series finale while the Pirates go with Oneil Cruz at designated hitter and Bryan Reynolds, Jake Mangum and Esmerlyn Valdez in the outfield from left to right. Before being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on May 18, Garcia had missed time earlier this month due to a back issue, prompting manager Don Kelly to note that the Pirates don't want to overextend the young outfielder too much until the back injury is further behind him, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Nonetheless, Garcia is off to a solid start since his promotion, going 5-for-16 with a walk while starting four of the last six games.

Mangum will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Since returning from the injured list last Sunday, Mangum has drawn starts in five of the last seven games. The Pirates recently called up Jhostynxon Garcia and Esmerlyn Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis to fortify their outfield while Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) is on the shelf, but Mangum could still have a path to at least a semi-regular role if Oneil Cruz continues to make more of his starts at designated hitter in place of the struggling Marcell Ozuna rather than in center field.

Lowe homered in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He went a combined 3-for-8 with two home runs and three RBI.

Lowe started at first base in both games while Sal Stewart served as the designated hitter in the matinee and handled third base in the night cap. An injury to Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) should result in consistent playing time for Lowe at first base or DH against right-handers while a combination of Stewart and Eugenio Suarez fill in at the hot corner. Lowe is up to eight home runs and 23 RBI over 38 games.

Davis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Though he's seen his playing time pick back up since Joey Bart (foot) landed on the injured list May 12, Davis looks to be part of a timeshare at catcher with Endy Rodriguez. Davis and Rodriguez have now alternated turns behind the dish over the Bucs' last six games.

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

Though he drove in both of the Pirates' runs in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Toronto, Ozuna will find himself on the bench for the third time in six contests for the series finale. The Pirates will deploy Oneil Cruz as their designated hitter in place of Ozuna, who may be fading into a part-time role while he's struggled to a .189/.279/.314 slash line across 179 plate appearances on the season.

Gonzalez (shoulder) has started hitting flips, MLB.com reports.

Gonzalez is taking short underhand flips from in close and at low velocity as he begins to get his timing back. At some point, he'll graduate to hitting off a machine and then live pitching. Gonzalez is aiming to return at some point next month.

The Red Sox optioned Samaniego to Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.

After he worked in relief the previous two days and with the Red Sox needing to clear room for Danny Coulombe (neck) to return from the injured list, Samaniego became a roster casualty. Samaniego has posted a 1.04 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB in 17.1 innings this season and shouldn't have to wait long for his next call-up to the big leagues.

The Red Sox reinstated Coulombe (neck) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.

Boston demoted another left-handed reliever in Tyler Samaniego to clear room on the active roster for Coulombe, who will rejoin the bullpen following a three-week stint on the shelf. Before dealing with neck spasms, he had delivered a 5.63 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in eight innings, mainly in middle relief.