MLB Player News

Basallo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Basallo started eight of the previous nine games but will hit the bench Sunday while in the midst of a 4-for-38 slump (.105 average). Sam Huff will take over behind the plate and bat eighth for the series finale at Cleveland.

Lile is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Though the left-handed-hitting Lile typically starts against left-handed pitching, he'll hit the bench Sunday for the first time in 2026 while the Giants send a tough southpaw in Robbie Ray to the bump. Through Washington's first 21 games of the season, Lile has produced a stellar .283 batting average but hasn't supplemented it with quality counting statistics (one home run, one stolen base, 13 runs and eight RBI).

Vivas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

The left-handed-hitting Vivas had started six of the Nationals' last seven games, seeing time at second base, third base and DH, but he'll hit the bench Sunday while southpaw Robbie Ray takes the hill for the Giants. With a .780 OPS through 54 plate appearances, Vivas has put himself in consideration for regular reps against right-handed pitching, but Jose Tena (.811 OPS in 36 plate appearances) is also jockeying with Vivas for the same spot in the lineup.

The Pirates optioned Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The right-hander was called up from Triple-A on Friday and made his season debut Saturday against the Rays, but he'll head back to the minors after surrendering to four runs over two-thirds of an inning. Wilber Dotel will take Sanders' place in Pittsburgh's bullpen.

Gilbert will start in center field and bat eighth Sunday against the Nationals, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Gilbert appears to have seized a regular role against right-handed pitchers while San Francisco is without Harrison Bader (hamstring). Since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday, the 25-year-old has been included in the lineup in five straight games. Over his first four starts, Gilbert has gone 3-for-12 with a home run, two walks, two RBI and an additional run scored.

The Pirates recalled Dotel from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The 23-year-old has surrendered 10 earned runs with a 13:7 K:BB over 14.1 innings to begin the season with Indianapolis, but he'll get his first opportunity in the major leagues anyway. Dotel was working out of the rotation at Triple-A but will shift to the bullpen to provide some depth for the Pirates after Saturday's 13-inning loss to the Rays.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said prior to Sunday's game that Perez could see more starts at designated hitter over the next few days as the veteran backstop has been dealing with a sore hip, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

Perez will indeed be in the lineup at DH on Sunday, one day after he received his first day off of the season in what Quatraro termed a "mental breather." Though Perez disagreed on social media Saturday that he needed a break, his numbers back up the skipper. Over 81 plate appearances, the 36-year-old has a .517 OPS, which would be the lowest mark of his career by 175 points.

The Dodgers recalled Ward from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

With Freddie Freeman going on the paternity list in a corresponding move, the 28-year-old Ward will receive his first call-up to the majors. The Dodgers added Ward to the 40-man roster over the winter after he slashed .292/.382/.558 with 36 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 143 games at Oklahoma City last season on his way to claiming Pacific Coast League MVP honors. He's gotten off to another strong start with the Triple-A club in 2026 (1.020 OPS, three steals in 18 games) and could end up serving as the Dodgers' main option at first base while Freeman is away from the team for the next 1-to-3 days.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a walk and a solo home in Saturday's 7-3 loss to Seattle.

Jung launched his second home run in three games, recording multiple hits and at least one RBI in all three contests. He spent the first nine games of the season hitting below .200, but his batting average now stands at .303. Since returning from an absence the Rangers attributed to him simply being banged up, Jung's bat has flourished to the tune of a .412/.487/.794 slash line with seven doubles, two home runs and six RBI over the last nine games.

The Dodgers placed Freeman on the paternity list Sunday, Jon Paul Hoornstra of Newsweek.com reports.

Freeman has played in all 20 of Los Angeles' games this season but will now step away from the team for a few days to be with his growing family. The veteran first baseman should rejoin the club during the upcoming three-game series in San Francisco this week. Ryan Ward was called up Sunday to round out the Dodgers' 26-man roster.