MLB Player News

Kwan (body fatigue) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

Kwan was scratched from Friday's lineup due to body fatigue and is sitting Sunday for the third consecutive contest. He should be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener versus Minnesota. Angel Martinez is receiving another start in left field.

Martin (illness) made relief appearances Wednesday against the Orioles and Thursday against the Yankees, tossing a pair of scoreless innings and striking out three batters while giving up one hit and no walks.

Martin appeared out of the bullpen just once in the first week of September before manager Alex Cora disclosed last Sunday that the reliever was battling an illness. Cora's decision to use Martin on consecutive days would seem to imply that the right-hander is now feeling back to full strength after the bout with the ailment.

Loperfido (hip) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

The 25-year-old departed Saturday's contest due to left adductor discomfort and will be held out of the starting nine for at least one game. Loperfido will have Monday's team off day to aid in his recovery ahead of Tuesday's series opener at Texas.

Varsho is out of the lineup for Sunday's game due to shoulder soreness, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

It's the first report of the injury for Varsho, but it makes sense as he hasn't been in the lineup since Tuesday against the Mets. The Blue Jays have a scheduled day off Monday, so the outfielder will have another two full days to rest up before Tuesday's series opener against the Rangers.

Lukes is starting in center field and batting in the leadoff spot for Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals.

Lukes will start in the outfield for a fourth straight game Sunday, and the 30-year-old has been seeing more playing time while Daulton Varsho has been sidelined due to a sore shoulder. He's gone 3-for-10 with one triple and three runs scored over the first two games of the series against St. Louis. In 10 major-league appearances this season, Lukes is slashing .342/.395/.474 with four RBI across 43 plate appearances.

Varsho is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Varsho will sit for a fourth consecutive game, three of which have come against right-handers. The 28-year-old has gone just 4-for-27 with a 37.9 percent strikeout rate since returning from a two-game absence due to a right shoulder injury in early September. Nathan Lukes will start in center field Sunday and bat in the leadoff spot against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas.

Rizzo is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Rizzo started the previous 10 games but will hit the bench Sunday after going 5-for-33 with one double and four walks during that span. Oswaldo Cabrera will take over at first base and bat eighth in the series finale versus Boston.

Springer is absent from Sunday's lineup against St. Louis.

Springer will begin Sunday's game on the bench after going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in the Blue Jays' 7-2 win over the Cardinals on Saturday. Addison Barger will start in right field and bat sixth against St. Louis right-hander Miles Mikolas.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's win over the Angels.

Alvarez launched a two-run, 432-foot home run off Tyler Anderson in his third trip to the plate to give Houston a 3-2 lead, marking the outfielder's second straight game in which he's gone deep. The long ball was his 34th of the campaign and his sixth this month, during which he's now batting .286 (14-for-49) with 13 RBI and seven runs scored. Alvarez has also recorded two RBI in back-to-back contests.

Langford went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's loss to the Mariners.

Langford doubled in his first trip to the plate before drawing a walk and stealing second in the top of the fifth. The theft was his 15th on the campaign and his third this month, during which he's now batting .333 (17-for-51) with three homers, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored. Langford has also hit safely in each of his last five games, posting three extra-base knocks over that stretch.