MLB Player News

Brannigan (nose) has gone 3-for-19 (.158 average) with a 1:13 BB:K in five games for Double-A Altoona since being reinstated from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.

Shelved to begin the season after fracturing his nose in his lone Grapefruit League game Feb. 22, Brannigan was cleared to begin a rehab assignment April 3 and went 6-for-21 with a pair of solo home runs in six games between stops at Single-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro. He struck out at a 43.5 percent clip during his rehab assignment, and making consistent contact has remained an issue for the 25-year-old since he reported back to Altoona. Brannigan was added to the Pirates' 40-man roster over the winter, but he doesn't appear likely to get a look with the big club anytime soon.

Winn went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and one run scored in Sunday's 7-5 extra-inning win over the Astros.

Winn posted his first three-hit effort of the season, highlighted by what proved to be a game-winning bases-clearing double in the top of the 10th inning. The shortstop is in the midst of a six-game hit streak and has driven in seven runs across his past three contests. For the year, he's slashing .222/.338/.333 with one homer, eight RBI, nine runs scored and two steals across 74 plate appearances.

Miller (back) is nearing a return to swinging a bat, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Miller has been "doing everything except for swinging," according to Phillies manager Rob Thomson, including fielding ground balls. The team is hoping to get the 21-year-old back swinging a bat this week as he continues to work his way back from lower-back soreness, which has plagued him since February.

Perdomo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

It's the first game off of the season for Perdomo, who has a .229/.325/.314 slash line though 21 contests. The veteran shortstop went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's victory, though overall it was an up-and-down performance as he was thrown out on the bases twice and also had a key defensive miscue. Manager Torey Lovullo said that Perdomo's absence from the lineup Sunday isn't a punishment but simply an opportunity to get him a much-needed day off, per Alex D'Agostino of SI.com. Perdomo could still make an appearance off the bench.

Tovar is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

Tovar will hit the bench for only the second time in the Rockies' first 22 games. Willi Castro (hand) will return to the starting nine following a three-game absence, filling in for Tovar at shortstop.

Castro (hand) will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

Castro will re-enter the starting nine for the first time since Wednesday, after a right hand contusion had limited him to a bench role over the Rockies' previous three contests. The Rockies have deployed Castro primarily at second base this season, but he'll cover shortstop Sunday while Ezequiel Tovar receives the afternoon off.

Saggese is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

Saggese is on the bench for the fourth game in a row and appears to have lost his grip on a regular spot in the lineup while mustering a weak .533 OPS across 47 plate appearances. Nathan Church has leapfrogged him on the depth chart after going 5-for-11 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI over the last three contests.

The Astros placed Loperfido on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a right quadriceps strain.

The 26-year-old sustained the quad injury during Friday's 9-4 loss to the Cardinals. Loperfido will be eligible to be reinstated April 28, and Astros general manager Dana Brown said during a radio appearance Sunday that he's optimistic that the 26-year-old outfielder will be ready to return at that time, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. In the meantime, the Astros will likely lean on Brice Matthews, Dustin Harris and Shay Whitcomb to pick up reps in left field in Loperfido's absence.

Perdomo went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's 6-2 win over Toronto.

It was an uneven performance from Perdomo. He extended a hit streak to four games (8-for-16) but was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, was nearly picked off first base, and had a defensive miscue that led to the Blue Jays tying the game in the sixth inning. Aside from the negative plays, it's encouraging to see Perdomo's bat finding life after a slow start to the season. His batting average climbed to .229, its highest point since the beginning of the month.

Velazquez signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Velazquez hasn't appeared in a professional game since the regular season began, but he'll get a chance with the Diamondbacks. He should serve as organizational infield depth at Triple-A Reno.