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.

Ruiz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Padres.

The backstop took Lucas Giolito deep in the second inning as the Nationals grabbed an early lead the bullpen let slip away. Over 15 games in May, Ruiz is slashing .364/.368/.727 with four of his five homers on the season along with eight doubles, 10 runs and 16 RBI.

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.

Warren (1-1) picked up the win Friday against the Marlins, striking out one in a perfect 10th inning.

The 30-year-old right-hander needed only seven pitches (six strikes) to strand the phantom runner before becoming the pitcher of record when MJ Melendez walked it off in the bottom of the 10th. Warren has been used in a low-leverage role this season -- he has zero saves or holds in 13 appearances -- but he's been effective, producing a 1.47 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB in 18.1 innings.

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.

Fairbanks (2-3) took the loss Friday against the Mets, giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit while recording one out in the 10th inning.

Brought on to keep the game tied at 7-7, Fairbanks instead served up a walk-off homer to MJ Melendez. The right-hander has allowed two homers in 5.1 innings over six appearances since returning in mid-May from nerve irritation in his hand, suggesting his command may not be as sharp as it was prior to the issue cropping up. Fairbanks has converted six of eight saves chances for the Marlins this season, but his 7.53 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB through 14.1 innings are far from his career ratios.