MLB Player News

Gonzales will be out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox while he continues to recover from a facial contusion, MLB.com reports.

He'll be relegated to the bench for the second day in a row after exiting Friday's 8-4 win when he was hit in the helmet by a pitch in the fifth inning. Gonzales was cleared for full activities Saturday and was available off the bench, but he went unused in the Pirates' 4-0 loss. Nick Yorke will draw the start at third base in Gonzales' stead Sunday, but the latter player could be ready to return to the starting nine in Monday's series opener versus the Tigers.

Nationals manager Blake Butera said Sunday that Wood has been progressing more slowly than the team hoped from his left oblique strain, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Wood hasn't been shut down from baseball activities completely, but the 24-year-old outfielder remains in a holding pattern and hasn't been cleared for more strenuous exercises. Per MLB.com, Wood has been throwing at about 65 percent intensity out to 90 feet, taking dry swings at about 70 percent intensity and swinging off a tee at about 60 percent intensity. Based on where he currently stands in his recovery, Wood looks to be at least a week or two away from potentially rejoining the Nationals.

Flores will start at first base and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Flores will draw his fourth consecutive start, two against right-handed pitchers and two versus lefties. With Spencer Horwitz occupying the strong side of a platoon at first base, Flores' main path to playing time will come behind the plate, where he could challenge Henry Davis for starts while Endy Rodriguez (hip) is on the shelf. Since coming off the injured list Aug. 1, Flores has done his part to earn more opportunities by going 7-for-22 with three home runs, two walks, eight RBI and three runs in seven games.

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

For the second time in the series, Horwitz will hit the bench while the Red Sox send another lefty to the bump in Patrick Sandoval. Rafael Flores will check in for Horwitz at first base and bat fifth.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Minnesota's matchup with the Phillies on Sunday.

After scoring Minnesota's lone run Saturday, Jeffers will sit out of Sunday's series finale. Victor Caratini will form a battery with Dean Kremer and bat eighth.

Gonzalez is not in the lineup for Sunday's affair with the Red Sox.

With southpaw Patrick Sandoval taking the mound for Boston, Gonzalez will sit out Sunday's rubber match. Jared Triolo will take over at shortstop and lead off for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates optioned Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

The Pirates recalled Hunter Barco from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace Dotel on the active roster and in the bullpen. Dotel owns a 4.71 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB across 28.2 innings at the big-league level this season.

The Pirates optioned Brannigan to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

After being elevated from Triple-A on Thursday, Brannigan played an inning in the field but didn't log any plate appearances during his three-day stay with the Pirates. He'll return to Indianapolis, where he's produced a .205/.305/.352 slash line with three home runs over 25 games this season.

The Pirates recalled Yorke from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday. He'll start at third base and bat seventh in the Pirates' series finale versus the Red Sox.

Per Jason Mackey of MLB.com, Yorke missed nearly two months of action at Triple-A while recovering from a fractured right middle finger, but the 24-year-old returned to the Indianapolis lineup earlier this week and went 6-for-16 with three home runs and a double in four games. He'll now get the call back to the big leagues for the first time since mid-May, with Pittsburgh optioning Jack Brannigan to Triple-A to make space for Yorke on the 26-man active roster.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Bellinger (hamstring) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday and could be activated from the 10-day injured list by next weekend, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Bellinger will most likely head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and play Tuesday and Thursday before being re-evaluated. That would have him on track to slot back into the Yankees lineup during next weekend's home series versus the Blue Jays. Bellinger has been on the shelf since July 26 due to a left hamstring strain.