MLB Player News

Owens (hip) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Lakeland on Saturday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Owens is working his way back from arthroscopic right hip surgery after re-signing with the Tigers on a minor-league contract. The righty got a cup of coffee in the majors last season and should join the Triple-A Toledo bullpen once he's deemed physically ready.

The Royals recalled Avila from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Avila turned in a 1.29 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 14 innings in the big leagues last season and will now join the big club for the first time this year. He made it through just three innings during his first start of the season in Triple-A, so he likely isn't stretched out enough to join Kansas City's rotation and therefore figures to act as a multi-inning reliever for the Royals.

Jensen was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup against the Twins, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Jensen is presumably dealing with some sort of injury, though the Royals have not revealed the reason for why he was scratched. More information should be available on Jensen's status soon. Jac Caglianone moved from right field into the designated-hitter spot in Jensen's place, and Lane Thomas entered the lineup in right field.

Vazquez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Red Sox.

Making his second start of the season, Vazquez extended Houston's lead to 6-4 with a homer off Danny Coulombe to lead off the seventh inning, his first long ball this year. Vasquez is now 2-for-7 to open the campaign after slashing .189/.271/.274 with three homers and 14 RBI across 214 plate appearances with the Twins in 2025.

Lee is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Kansas City.

Lee will receive a day off after getting off to a 2-for-13 start with five strikeouts at the plate. Tristan Gray will fill in at shortstop as the Twins try to avoid the sweep.

Jeffers is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Kansas City.

It's a routine day off for Jeffers, who has now started four of the first six games behind the dish. It will be Victor Caratini doing the catching in Thursday's series finale.

Burke will be used in a bulk-relief role for Friday's home opener versus the Blue Jays, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Grant Taylor will serve as an opener for the White Sox before handing things off to Burke. The 26-year-old Burke fared quite well in 2025 when used as a bulk reliever, posting a 2.97 ERA and 38:10 K:BB over 30.1 innings covering six outings. Burke yielded four runs (three earned) with a 5:1 K:BB over four frames in a traditional start versus the Brewers this past weekend.

Taylor will be the White Sox' opening pitcher in Friday's game against the Blue Jays, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Taylor will take the ball first as the White Sox begin their first homestand of the season before handing things off to Sean Burke, who will handle the bulk of the innings. The 23-year-old Taylor has tossed one inning in each of his first two appearances this season but is expected to eventually stretch out to cover multiple frames, as his goal is to reach 100 innings in 2026 before moving into the rotation in 2027.

Rogers gave up two hits in a scoreless inning of relief to record his second hold of the season in Wednesday's loss to the Rockies.

The veteran sidearmer was the first man out of the bullpen for Toronto after Kevin Gausman had dominated for six scoreless innings, and Rogers kept the shutout going before the team's other relievers stumbled late. Rogers has seen a heavy workload to begin his Blue Jays tenure, appearing in four of the season's first six games and posting a 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 3:1 K:BB.

Clement went 2-for-4 in Wednesday's loss to the Rockies.

The 30-year-old has had a quick start to the year, going 8-for-25 (.320) through six games with three doubles, two RBI and one run. Clement is shifting from a super-utility role to being the Blue Jays' everyday starter at second base this season, but so far that adjustment hasn't impacted him at the plate.