MLB Player News

The Rangers outrighted Rivera to their alternate training site Sunday.

Rivera cleared waivers after the Rangers designated him for assignment Friday. Though he'll remain in the organization, his chances of resurfacing with the big club in 2020 have been reduced now that he no longer occupies a spot on the 40-man roster.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin said in an interview with MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that he doesn't expect Chapman (hip) to play Monday or in Oakland's doubleheader Tuesday with the Astros.

Oakland hasn't disclosed the results of the MRI that Chapman underwent on the strained right hip he sustained in Sunday's series finale with the Padres, but the injury is apparently considered serious enough to sideline him for the next two days. For now, the Athletics are hopeful a couple days of rest will be enough for Chapman to move past the hip issue, but a stint on the injured list isn't being ruled out for the slick-fielding third baseman. Chad Pinder or Tommy La Stella should serve as the primary replacements at the hot corner until Chapman is deemed ready to go.

Escobar is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants.

Wyatt Mathisen will pick up his first big-league start at third base in place of Escobar, who went 4-for-13 with a double, an RBI and a run in the first three games of the season. Though he's seen his OPS drop more than 200 points from his 2019 mark (.831), Escobar is still expected to handle an everyday role as the 15-26 Diamondbacks play out the string on a losing season. He may be subject to one or two off days per week, however, as the Diamondbacks look to give opportunities to some of their younger infielders.

Longoria was scratched from Monday's lineup against Arizona due to right glute soreness, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Longoria was sore after leaving Sunday's contest, and he'll get a day off Monday as a precautionary measure. Manager Gabe Kapler emphasized that the issue isn't serious, but the team will give him a day off to allow him to recover.

Longoria was scratched from Monday's lineup against the Diamondbacks for an undisclosed reason, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

It's unclear what's keeping Longoria out of the lineup, but Pablo Sandoval will step in at third base in his absence. The 34-year-old went 1-for-13 with a solo home run and three strikeouts over the first three games of the series against Arizona.

The Cubs added Vargas to their active roster ahead of Monday's game against the Cardinals, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Chicago claimed Vargas off waivers from the Twins on Saturday, but he was unavailable for the past two days while the Cubs waited for him to clear COVID-19 intake testing. The utility man will provide depth around the diamond for the Cubs, but he likely won't have a path to steady at-bats at any position.

Anderson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Braves, Andre Fernandez of Sirius XM Radio reports.

He'll be taking a seat for the first time in 2020, ending a streak of 35 straight starts to begin the season. Despite the steady at-bats, Anderson's .740 OPS is 70 points below his mark from 2019, with the downturn mostly the result of a massive uptick in his strikeout rate. Anderson has struck out in 32.1 percent of his plate appearances this season, nearly 10 percentage points above his career rate (22.2 percent).

Rendon went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 9-5 win over the Astros.

Rendon's eighth home run of the season was a two-run shot in the third inning Sunday, tying the contest up at 3-3. The 30-year-old slugger is enjoying a solid first season with the Angels, slashing .292/.425/.538 with 24 RBI and 15 extra-base hits in 160 plate appearances.

Chapman was diagnosed with a right hip strain and will undergo an MRI, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Chapman was forced out of Sunday's contest prior to the fifth inning due to his injury, and the MRI could help to determine the extent of the issue. A better timetable for his return should come into focus once the results of the MRI are known.

Chapman exited Sunday's game against the Padres with an apparent leg injury, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Chapman was replaced defensively to begin the fifth inning, and he appeared to be having his leg looked at by trainers before he was replaced. The nature and severity of the injury aren't yet known, and it's unclear whether his availability will be impacted moving forward.