MLB Player News

Escobar is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

Escobar is getting a breather after he started in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader in Colorado while going 1-for-6 with two walks and a run. Luis Guillorme will spell Escobar at third base.

The Cubs designated Vargas for assignment Sunday.

Vargas was deemed expendable with the Cubs needing a spot on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for catcher P.J. Higgins, who was called up from Triple-A Iowa to provide a healthy option behind the plate while backstop Willson Contreras (hamstring) is day-to-day. During his nearly two-week stay with Chicago, Vargas appeared in 10 games and hit .130/.231/.348 over 26 plate appearances.

Moustakas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game in Toronto.

Toronto is bringing lefty Yusei Kikuchi to the hill for the series finale, so the lefty-hitting Moustakas will retreat to the bench as the Reds stock up on extra right-handed bats. Tyler Stephenson will get a day off behind the plate to fill in as the designated hitter in place of Moustakas, who went 8-for-36 with two home runs, four walks, eight runs and four RBI while starting in each of the Reds' last 10 games.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Newman (groin) suffered a hamstring-related setback during the infielder's rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Newman most recently played for Indianapolis on Friday, when he presumably experienced hamstring pain that Cherington notes is unrelated to the strained left groin that first sent him to the injured list in late April. Cherington added that the hamstring issue is on the minor side for Newman, but the 28-year-old looks like he'll be held out of action for at least a few days before restarting his rehab assignment. Fantasy managers should probably plan on him missing at least another week.

Machado went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in a 2-1 victory against San Francisco on Saturday.

Machado plated the Padres' first run with a 425-foot shot to center field in the third inning. The long ball was his first since May 5 and his eighth overall this season. During his current five-game hitting streak, Machado is batting .348 (8-for-23) with three runs, two RBI and a stolen base.

Wisdom went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Wisdom also struck out twice in the contest, displaying his all-or-nothing approach this season. He has eight home runs through 36 games but is also batting just .208 and is striking out 41.2 percent of the time. Fantasy managers should enjoy the long balls, but Wisdom won't provide much else on a consistent basis unless he can cut down on the whiffs.

Sosa (ankle) is starting Saturday against Pittsburgh, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Sosa didn't appear in the last two games while dealing with an ankle injury, but he'll start at shortstop and bat eighth during Saturday's matchup. Over his last five games, he's gone 5-for-15 with two runs, an RBI and two strikeouts.

Longoria will sit Saturday against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Longoria made his season debut last Wednesday after missing the start of the season due to finger surgery. He's the clear primary third baseman in San Francisco, but he's also getting frequent days off, as he'll sit here for the third time in nine games since his return to action. Tommy La Stella will start at the hot corner this time around.

Wisdom is starting in left field and batting sixth in Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Wisdom has primarily played at third base this season, though this will be his third start of the year in left field. The Cubs are likely wanting to capitalize on the matchup against lefty starter Madison Bumgarner, as Wisdom owns an .875 OPS against southpaws this season, versus only a .618 mark against righties.

Farmer isn't starting Saturday against the Blue Jays.

Farmer started in the last three games and went 6-for-10 with two doubles, two RBI and a run. He'll get a breather while Matt Reynolds starts at shortstop with Alejo Lopez taking over at second base.