MLB Player News

Walls (hamstring) is starting at shortstop and batting ninth for the Rays on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls missed each of Tampa Bay's past three games due to a hamstring issue, but he's feeling well enough to return to action Saturday. Three different players started at shortstop for the Rays while Walls was sidelined, and Ben Williamson -- who played the position Friday -- is sliding over to second base for Saturday's matchup.

Carter isn't in the Rangers' starting lineup for Saturday's matchup against Kansas City.

Carter frequently sits against lefty starters, but this time he's being held out of the lineup versus right-hander Seth Lugo. Michael Helman will man center field for Texas in Carter's stead. Carter was hit by a pitch Friday, but it's unclear if that has anything to do with him being held out Saturday, per Matthew Postins of SI.com.

The Rays optioned Bigge to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

The 27-year-old will end up as the roster casualty necessary to make room in the bullpen for Cole Sulser (back), who returned from the injured list Saturday. Bigge owns a 6.98 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 19.1 innings with the Rays this season and gave up three earned runs without recording an out during his last appearance Friday.

The Rays reinstated Sulser (back) from the injured list Saturday.

Sulser didn't play in any rehab games while recovering from a lower-back strain, but he has been facing live hitters over the past few days and will now rejoin the Rays' bullpen following a minimum-length IL stay. The 36-year-old righty will presumably reclaim a setup role after posting a 3.68 ERA and 1.36 WHIP through 22 innings on the year. Hunter Bigge was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The White Sox transferred Leasure (forearm) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Leasure landed on the injured list Friday with a right flexor strain and will be shut down from throwing for four weeks. He isn't expected to be activated until the second half of the season, so the White Sox will stash him away on the 60-day IL and give his 40-man spot to Jacob Gonzalez, who joined the big club Saturday.

The White Sox selected Gonzalez's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday.

Gonzalez will provide the White Sox with extra infield depth and a power bat to help make up for the loss of Munetaka Murakami, who landed on the injured list Saturday with a hamstring strain. Gonzalez has experience fielding all four infield positions -- primarily second base and shortstop -- which could help him crack the starting nine somewhat regularly while he's in the big leagues. Jordan Leasure (forearm) was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.

The White Sox placed Murakami on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right hamstring strain.

Murakami suffered the injury while running to first base in the third inning of Friday's contest, and manager Will Venable said after the game that the slugging first baseman will be out for at least a couple of weeks. Jacob Gonzalez was promoted from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move to replenish Chicago's infield depth, and Miguel Vargas will likely take over as the first baseman until Murakami returns.

Varsho went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and a run scored in Friday's win over the Orioles.

Both extra-base hits came off southpaw Trevor Rogers, as Varsho stays dialed in at the plate. It was the center fielder's fifth multi-hit performance in his last 13 games, a stretch in which he's slashing .327/.411/.510 with zero homers but five doubles, two triples, one steal, three RBI and seven runs.

Pederson went 1-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 9-1 win over Kansas City.

Pederson is in the midst of a power surge, having swatted four homers over the last four games. He's lately getting turns as the team's leadoff batter and is slashing .295/.380/.682 with six walks, five home runs and nine RBI over 14 games in that role.

Foscue was not in the starting lineup for a third consecutive game Friday. He did enter to play first base in the final inning of Texas' 9-1 win over the Royals.

Foscue had been a regular presence at second base but has watched from the bench as the recently signed Nicky Lopez started the last three games, all against right-handers. Foscue has appeared in all three contests, either as a pinch hitter or a late-game substitution. The Rangers are scheduled to face Kansas City right-hander Seth Lugo on Saturday, which could mean a fourth straight game on the bench for Foscue.