MLB Player News

Taylor was signed as a reserve and possible fallback in case the White Sox traded Luis Robert Jr., but with Andrew Benintendi hurt, he’ll probably see an expanded role early on. Alas, things are looking rather bleak here right now. Taylor is 0-for-13 with 10 strikeouts and two walks through five games.

Tinoco is going to be on the shelf for at least 15 days with a back injury. While it’s not an arm injury, this leaves Anthony Bender and Calvin Faucher as the possible options for save opportunities with the Marlins. RHP Luarbert Arias was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville to take Tinoco’s spot on the active roster.

“But we also want to be super cautious with this and make sure it doesn’t turn into something that’s going to linger,” Vogt added. The Guardians have Gabriel Arias at third and Daniel Schneeman at second today.

López warmed up Thursday, but he sat back down because he didn’t feel well. With the Nationals having lost two close games, López certainly would have pitched at least once by now had he been feeling up to it.

There’s no indication of an injury here. Cruz has made multiple mistakes in center field already, but sitting him in the fourth game of the season, against a right-hander and when he could easily DH, is baffling. Cruz reached base eight times in the Pirates’ first three games. Jack Suwinski is in center field today.

Adell left Saturday’s game with left hip tightness, but it seems like a trip to the injured list won’t be necessary since he told reporters he’s feeling much better and could play as soon as Monday. While it remains to be seen if he’ll actually be in the lineup Monday, Adell seems to have at least avoided a worst-case scenario.

Ornelas was recalled because Josh Jung is injured and Josh Smith hurt himself during Saturday’s game. Texas needed an extra infielder and Ornelas will do the job with Jung going on the injured list. Ornelas is in the lineup Sunday playing shortstop and batting eighth with Corey Seager getting a routine day off.

That’s the case even though all three games have been against right-handers. Julien had a solid spring, hitting .281/.349/.456, but the Twins seem to be prioritizing defense in using Willi Castro at second base and Harrison Bader in left field. Julien at second and Castro in left seems like a better alignment against righties.

Lee started against a lefty on Opening Day, but Thaiss, a left-handed hitter, has played over him against righties the last two days. It was expected that Lee would be displaced as the White Sox’s starting catcher at some point this season, but we assumed it would be for Kyle Teel or Edgar Quero over the summer and not by Thaiss on the first weekend of the season.

Sosa homered on Opening Day and has three hard-hit balls to one strikeout in two games, but it seems he needs the early day off anyway. Meanwhile, the White Sox have Nick Maton DHing for a second game in a row.

Melendez is off to an 0-for-6 start, and the Royals are playing Hunter Renfroe over him in right field today with Jonathan India in left. Melendez should be back in there Monday, as the Royals are slated to face right-handers all three games against the Brewers this week.