MLB Player News

The Astros have added Lambert to their taxi squad and appear poised to give him a start Friday against the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros have Lance McCullers starting Saturday and Mike Burrows on Sunday but currently have Friday's starter listed as TBA. Barring something unforeseen, that assignment will go to Lambert, who will need to be added to the 40-man roster. Lambert boasts a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB over 14.2 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land and will be on six days' rest Friday. He last pitched in the majors in 2024 with the Rockies.

The Orioles optioned Handley to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Handley arrived in the majors Saturday to provide insurance behind the plate after Adley Rutschman (ankle) landed on the IL, but the former will now return to the minors without playing a game for the O's. Sam Huff will now take over the backup catching jobCameron Foster was recalled from Norfolk in a corresponding move.

The Orioles recalled Foster from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Foster has given up seven earned runs in just six innings at Norfolk, but the Orioles will bring him up anyway to give their bullpen some extra depth. The 27-year-old will be making his MLB debut whenever he gets into a game.

Schneemann is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.

While starting in each of the last four games -- twice against righties and twice against lefties -- Schneemann went 7-for-14 with three extra-base hits (one home run, two doubles), two walks, two runs and three RBI. Though he'll take a seat against righty Shane Baz in the series opener, Schneemann has made a case for earning regular starts while the Guardians remain without one of their key everyday players in Gabriel Arias (hamstring), whose absence appears likely to stretch into at least the middle of May. For the season, Schneemann has produced a .371 wOBA, placing him third among all Guardians with at least 25 plate appearances.

Clarke is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Clarke will pick up some rest in the series finale after he had started in each of the previous seven games while going 4-for-22 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, four RBI and two runs. Lawrence Butler typically patrols right field but will slide over to center field Thursday with Clarke on the bench.

Muncy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Muncy suffered a bruised hand earlier in the series when he was hit by a pitch, and the Athletics are wrapping up their four-game set versus Texas with a day game after a night game, so manager Mark Kotsay will elect to give the young infielder a breather. Darell Hernaiz will check in at third base in place of Muncy, who started in each of the Athletics' first 18 games of the season while slashing .288/.338/.485 with two home runs, two steals, 13 runs and five RBI.

Wynns will start at catcher and bat eighth in Thursday's game against the Rangers.

With Shea Langeliers handling one of the heavier workloads among all catchers this season, Wynns has seen sparse action through the first three weeks of the campaign. Wynns will be included in the starting nine Thursday for just the fifth time in the Athletics' first 19 contests.

Naylor is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.

It's a routine day off for Naylor, who started at catcher the previous two contests. Austin Hedges will be behind the dish and bat eighth Thursday as the Guardians open up a homestand.

Jansen is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Jansen will receive a breather for Thursday's matinee game after he started behind the dish both of the previous two nights. Kyle Higashioka will step in at catcher and form a battery with starting pitcher Jack Leiter in the series finale.

Carter is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Carter has now been left out of the starting lineup five times through the Rangers' first 19 games, with each absence coinciding with Texas facing a left-handed starter. Though Carter's overall volume of playing time will remain suppressed if the Rangers continue to treat him as a strict platoon player, the 23-year-old has more than held his own versus righties thus far, producing a .238/.385/.452 slash line (145 wRC+) over 52 plate appearances against them.