MLB Player News

Pasquantino is absent from the lineup for Sunday's matchup against the Pirates.

Despite recording back-to-back multi-hit games, Pasquantino will take a breather for Sunday's series finale against Pittsburgh. Salvador Perez will start at first base and bat cleanup for the Royals.

Contreras (hand) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

It's the third consecutive absence for Contreras after exiting Thursday's contest against the Rangers with a bruised right hand from a hit-by-pitch. The veteran slugger will have Monday's team off day to aid in his recovery ahead of Tuesday's series opener versus Cleveland. Nick Sogard is picking up another start at first base Sunday for the Red Sox.

Grissom went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in Saturday's 6-5 extra-innings win over the Twins.

Grissom's blast was a game-tying solo shot in the ninth inning. The infielder has maintained fairly steady playing time in September, but he's hitting just .169 (10-for-59) over 17 games this month. For the season, he's batting .237 with a .689 OPS, 12 homers, 66 RBI, 44 runs scored, 22 doubles and one stolen base over 112 contests.

Contreras (hand) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Contreras will miss a second consecutive start after leaving Thursday's contest with a bruised right hand. Nick Sogard will slide over to first base while Contreras sits, giving Isiah Kiner-Falefa a start at second.

Torkelson isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.

Torkelson will get a chance to rest his legs Saturday after going 10-for-24 (.417) with two homers, six RBI, five runs and a 7:8 BB:K during his seven-game hitting streak. Colt Keith will pick up a start at first base as a result, putting Riley Greene at the DH spot and Brett Callahan in left field.

Burger went 1-for-2 with two walks, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Burger finished off Toronto with a run-producing sacrifice fly in the sixth inning followed by a run-scoring double in the eighth. The first baseman is up to a career- and team-high 86 RBI over 147 contests.

Schanuel (side) returned from his rehab assignment Friday and isn't expected to get activated from the injured list before the end of the season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Schanuel was cleared to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake last weekend, but he appeared in just one game Sunday and hasn't played since. He rejoined the team Friday to undergo further testing and receive treatment, and although the results of his latest tests are unknown, manager Kurt Suzuki said that the 24-year-old will most likely be shut down for the year. Vaughn Grissom is expected to continue working as the Angels' primary first baseman for the rest of the regular season.

Contreras (hand) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.

Contreras was hit on the right hand with a pitch in Thursday's win over the Rangers but avoided a fracture and has been diagnosed with a bruised hand. Nick Sogard will start at first base and bat second against Tampa Bay lefty Ian Seymour on Friday.

Murakami went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a triple in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Tigers.

Murakami supplied all of the White Sox's runs with his first-inning homer off Framber Valdez. Later in the game, Murakami hit the first triple of his big-league career. The corner infielder hasn't been known for speed this year, adding just one stolen base on four attempts. The power has been there -- he's batting .205 with an .817 OPS, 32 homers, 68 RBI, 76 runs scored and 14 doubles over 118 contests in his rookie season.

Interim manager Chad Tracy said after Thursday's win over the Rangers that Contreras has a bruised right hand and is considered day-to-day, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

He appears to have dodged a serious injury after getting plunked in the hand by a 92.3-mph sinker from Jakob Junis in the eighth inning Thursday, as X-rays came back negative. It's unclear if Contreras will be available for Friday's series opener against Tampa Bay.