Espino (shoulder) will serve as the opening pitcher for Triple-A Columbus on Saturday versus Omaha.

It will be the first game appearance since April 2022 for Espino, who is working his way back from March 2024 surgery to repair his right shoulder capsule and rotator cuff. The 24-year-old was once one of the top pitching prospects in the game but has had his career derailed by numerous arm injuries. Espino will knock some rust off with Columbus this weekend and is then slated to pitch in the Arizona Fall League.

The Twins placed Wallner on the 10-day injured list Friday due to a strained right oblique.

Wallner was removed from Wednesday's game with right back spasms and wasn't part of Friday's lineup due to the issue. He'll now head to the injured list with what's being called a right oblique strain. The Twins are eliminated from postseason eligibility, meaning Wallner won't be able to return in 2025. He'll end the season with a .202/.311/.464 slash line and 22 home runs across 392 plate appearances. DaShawn Keirsey was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move.

The Twins recalled Keirsey from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.

Keirsey will fill Matt Wallner's (oblique) spot on the active roster for the closing days of the regular season as Wallner heads to the injured list. In 85 big-league plate appearances this season, Keirsey is slashing .110/.141/.183, but he's posted a .771 OPS in 161 plate appearances at Triple-A. He'll have a chance to play occasionally in right field.

Jensen will start in the designated hitter spot and bat leadoff Friday against the Blue Jays.

It's the sixth straight start for Jensen and the first time he's batted higher than eighth. Regular leadoff man Mike Yastrzemski is getting a day off, so Jensen's presence at the top of the batting order could be short-lived. However, the rookie appears to have carved out a regular role versus right-handed pitching. Jensen is slashing .320/.452/.640 with two home runs and a 6:7 BB:K over his first 11 major-league contests.

India is out of the lineup for Friday's contest against the Blue Jays.

After starting six of the first seven games upon his return from the injured list, India has now been on the bench for three games in a row. Michael Massey is getting a second straight start at second base for the Royals.

The Royals placed Erceg on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a right shoulder impingement.

The move essentially ends Erceg's season, as the Royals haven't officially been eliminated from playoff contention but remain seven games out from the final wild-card spot with nine games to play. The 30-year-old has a 2.64 ERA and 48:18 K:BB in 61.1 innings this season. He's tallied an 8-4 record with 23 holds as well. Steven Cruz (shoulder) was activated from the IL in a corresponding move.

Benintendi is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Padres.

Benintendi isn't dealing with any known injury, but this is his second straight absence versus a right-handed pitcher. Will Robertson is in left field and batting eighth in Friday's series opener.

Sosa is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Padres.

Sosa has just a .559 OPS and 35.6 percent strikeout rate so far in September. After being moved down to the No. 6 spot in the lineup for the previous two games, he'll get a day to regroup Friday. Miguel Vargas is at first base and Curtis Mead is at third base for the White Sox.

The Royals activated Cruz (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

Cruz has been on the shelf since Aug. 3 due to tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, but he's been cleared to rejoin the active roster. The 26-year-old made four appearances during a minor-league rehab stint, allowing three hits and no walks with four strikeouts across 4.1 innings. Lucas Erceg (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.

Harris is not in the lineup for Friday's game in Pittsburgh.

After starting three straight games at third base earlier this week, Harris has now been held out of the lineup in back-to-back contests. Darell Hernaiz will play the hot corner and Zack Gelof will handle second base in Friday's series opener. Harris and Gelof could continue to form a quasi-platoon down the stretch, though it will be difficult to know ahead of time which of the two of them is going to start since they both bat from the right side of the plate.