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Luke Keaschall 2B | MIN
Twins' Luke Keaschall: Heading to bench Friday
Keaschall is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.
The 23-year-old started Minnesota's first 25 games of the season, and he'll take a seat Friday after posting a .202/.245/.263 slash line with one homer and five steals. Tristan Gray will step in at the keystone with Keaschall on the bench.
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Eugenio Suarez DH | CIN
Reds' Eugenio Suarez: Scratched with back injury
Suarez was scratched from the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers due to mid-back pain, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
It's unclear how severe Suarez's injury is, but it will prevent him from serving as Cincinnati's designated hitter in Friday's series opener. Nathaniel Lowe will replace him in the starting nine and bat sixth.
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Patrick Bailey C | CLE
Giants' Patrick Bailey: Resting Friday
Bailey is not in the Giants' starting lineup against the Marlins on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Eric Haase will start behind home plate and bat ninth while catching pitches from Adrian Houser for Friday's series opener. In 15 games since April 1, Bailey has gone 7-for-45 (.156) with one steal, one home run, three RBI and a 3:8 BB:K.
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Josh Bell DH | MIN
Twins' Josh Bell: Taking seat Friday
Bell is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.
The veteran slugger started the previous 16 games and will receive a day off after posting a .267/.333/.350 slash line during that span. Byron Buxton is resting his legs as the designated hitter in Bell's absence, which opens up center field for Austin Martin.
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Willie MacIver C | SEA
Blue Jays' Willie MacIver: Heading to Toronto
The Blue Jays acquired MacIver from the Rangers on Friday in exchange for cash considerations.
MacIver will now be a part of Toronto's organization after he was designated for assignment by Texas on Thursday, and he has been subsequently been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. He gives the Blue Jays additional depth at the catcher position while Alejandro Kirk continues to recover from a fractured left thumb and with C.J. Stubbs (undisclosed) on the 7-day minor-league injured list. Tyler Fitzgerald was DFA'd by the Blue Jays in a corresponding move.
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Bennett Sousa RP | HOU
Astros' Bennett Sousa: Expected back Saturday
Sousa (oblique) is likely to be activated from the injured list Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Sousa was cleared to begin a rehab assignment April 11 and has since made three appearances in the minors, posting a 9:1 K:BB across 3.2 shutout innings. The 31-year-old lefty will presumably take on a high-leverage role after posting a 2.84 ERA in 50.2 innings last season, and he could be in the mix for saves while Josh Hader (biceps) is on the IL.
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Andrew Benintendi DH | CHW
White Sox's Andrew Benintendi: Sitting versus righty
Benintendi is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals.
The veteran outfielder has a .923 OPS with two doubles and two homers over his past six games, but he'll take a seat against a right-handed starter (Miles Mikolas) on Friday for just the second time this season. Everson Pereira is batting leadoff as the designated hitter with Benintendi on the bench.
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Maikel Garcia 3B | KC
Royals' Maikel Garcia: Should return Saturday
Garcia (elbow), who is out of the lineup for Friday's series opener versus the Angels, said he's feeling better and hopes to be available off the bench before potentially returning to the lineup Saturday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Garcia described the elbow injury he sustained during Wednesday's game against the Orioles as a cramp, which is encouraging even though he's not starting Friday. Nick Loftin is picking up a start at third base Friday, but Garcia should be good to go in short order..
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Austin Hays LF | SD
White Sox's Austin Hays: Set to begin rehab assignment
Hays (hamstring) will embark on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
Hays has been cleared to take the next step in his recovery from a Grade 1 right hamstring strain that caused him to land on the 10-day injured list April 7. He'll head to Triple-A to get some in-game reps and is inching closer to returning to the majors, barring a setback.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
Brewers' Andrew Vaughn: Hitting on field
Vaughn (hand) began hitting on the field Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Vaughn was cleared to begin swinging a bat earlier in the week, and he has now started to hit for the first time since undergoing surgery in late March to address a fractured hamate bone. He's slated to visit a doctor Tuesday, at which point he could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment and remain on track for an early-to-mid-May return.