MLB Player News

Crooks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

After he was held out of the lineup for the first two games of the series against lefty starters, the left-handed hitter will remain on the bench even with right-hander Javier Assad on the bump for the Cubs. Crooks looks as though he'll have to settle for a part-time role while the Cardinals continue to carry two other catchers (Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages) on the active roster.

Conforto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Conforto started the previous three games and will take a seat Sunday after going 5-for-11 with two walks, two homers, four RBI and four runs during that span. The veteran outfielder should continue to see regular playing time against right-handed pitching through the All-Star break with Matt Shaw (hand) on the injured list, though Conforto is likely to continue sitting versus southpaws. Kevin Alcantara is starting as the designated hitter against St. Louis lefty Matthew Liberatore while Seiya Suzuki handles right field.

Fermin will start at third base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Fermin will claim his third consecutive start -- and his second in a row at third base -- after going 3-for-9 with two doubles, one RBI and one run over the first two contests of the series. With rookie Blaze Jordan (.642 OPS) offering middling production at the hot corner since being promoted from Triple-A Memphis on June 12, Fermin has a path to unseating him atop the depth chart. The 27-year-old hasn't provided much power (.398 SLG) or speed (three steals) while logging 144 plate appearances this season, but Fermin's been able to maintain a solid .271 batting average with a strong 13.9 percent strikeout rate.

Jordan is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Jose Fermin will make a second consecutive start at third base over Jordan, whose grasp on an everyday role appears to be loosening. Before busting out for three hits and scoring three runs in a 17-1 romp Friday, Jordan had gone just 2-for-21 over his prior eight starts. He's slashing .246/.265/.377 overall since receiving a promotion from Triple-A Memphis on June 12.

Jung is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers due to a sore knee, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Ezequiel Duran will draw the start at third base in place of Jung, who fouled a ball off his knee during Saturday's 3-0 loss but was able to stay in the game and play all nine innings. According to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that Jung will undergo X-rays prior to Sunday's game to rule out any significant issues, and the 28-year-old could be available off the bench if things check out. Texas is off Monday before kicking off a three-game home series with the Angels on Tuesday.

Pena (calf) is expected to play in a couple of rehab games at Triple-A Sugar Land this week could return from the 10-day injured list during the Astros' final series before the All-Star break next weekend against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The veteran shortstop landed on the shelf last Tuesday due to a calf strain, but his absence looks like it will end up being a brief one. Pena was swinging a hot bat prior to getting hurt, having gone 8-for-21 with two walks, three RBI and five runs in his last five games.

Langeliers (thumb) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Langeliers will miss a second straight start while he tends to a left thumb contusion, but the Athletics are optimistic that a team off day Monday will provide sufficient time for the star catcher to heal up, per MLB.com. Brian Serven will draw the start behind the plate in the series finale with the Marlins.

The Pirates designated Wendzel for assignment Sunday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

He'll give up his spot on the 40-man roster to right-hander Noah Murdock, who exercised an upward-mobility clause in his minor-league contract. Wendzel, 29, appeared in two games for the Pirates back in June but has otherwise spent the entire campaign at Triple-A Indianapolis, with whom he's produced a .230/.349/.461 slash line and 10 home runs across 261 plate appearances.

The Pirates selected Murdock's contract and optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Murdock will be added to the 40-man roster after he exercised an upward-mobility clause in his minor-league contract that would have allowed him to test free agency had the Pirates not cleared a spot for him. The 27-year-old pitched at Single-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona to begin the season before moving up to Triple-A in early June. Over the past month, Murdock has submitted a 4.26 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB in 12.2 innings out of the Indianapolis bullpen.

May (ankle) is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Brewers in St. Louis, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The right-hander departed his start Thursday against Atlanta after taking a comebacker off his ankle during a 34-pitch first inning, but he'll re-enter the rotation Monday on just three days' rest. May has surrendered 11 runs in his past two starts, but he submitted a 1.30 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 33:4 K:BB across 27.2 frames in his four starts prior to that.