MLB Player News

Church will start in left field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Astros.

Church made just one start last week, but he appears to have taken back control of a regular spot in the outfield when St. Louis faces right-handed pitching. He'll pick up his fourth straight start after going 5-for-11 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI over the previous three games.

Saggese is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

Saggese is on the bench for the fourth game in a row and appears to have lost his grip on a regular spot in the lineup while mustering a weak .533 OPS across 47 plate appearances. Nathan Church has leapfrogged him on the depth chart after going 5-for-11 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI over the last three contests.

Wallner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Wallner will take a seat for the second straight day, this time against a right-handed starter (Brady Singer) after he had been out of the lineup for Saturday's 5-4 loss while southpaw Andrew Abbott opened the game for the Reds. James Outman will fill in as the Twins' starting right fielder in place of Wallner, who still appears to be locked into a full-time role despite slashing a meager .181/.272/.333 with three home runs and six RBI over 81 plate appearances to begin the season.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Jeffers appears to be receiving a routine breather for Sunday's matinee contest after starting in each of the Twins' previous three games. Victor Caratini is slated to handle catching duties for Minnesota in the series finale with the Reds.

Urena will start Sunday's game against the Padres, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The right-hander was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday and will fill the Halos' open rotation spot, pushing back Reid Detmers to pitch Monday versus the Blue Jays. Urena made two relief appearances for Anaheim in the opening days of the season and gave up six runs (none earned) on five hits and three walks across 1.2 innings. He covered five frames during his last start for Salt Lake and should be able to handle a typical starting workload.

Detmers is no longer scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Padres and will instead take the hill for Monday's game versus the Blue Jays in Anaheim, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Rather than waiting until the upcoming week to break in a new fifth starter, the Angels will have Walbert Urena enter the rotation for Sunday's series finale. Detmers tentatively lines up for two starts next week as a result, with his second turn set to come next Sunday in Kansas City.

The White Sox optioned Nikhazy to Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday.

The left-hander was called up by Chicago on Friday and will return to the minors after giving up a run over two innings versus the A's in his team debut. Nikhazy's roster spot will be taken by Osvaldo Bido, who is joining the active roster Sunday after being claimed off waivers.

Hernandez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Hernandez patrolled left field in 13 of the Marlins' first 21 games this season, but with Kyle Stowers (hamstring) making his return from the injured list Sunday, that path to playing time will close. Hernandez looks as though he may have to settle for a short-side platoon role in right field or at designated hitter after slashing a meager .137/.267/.176 through 60 plate appearances.

Frelick is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Frelick will hit the bench for just the third time this season and for the first time against a right-handed starting pitcher (Eury Perez). Luis Matos will check in as the Brewers' starting right fielder in place of Frelick, who is mired in a 3-for-30 slump at the plate over his last eight games.

Ortiz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Ortiz will hit the bench for the second time in the series while Milwaukee clears a spot for Luis Rengifo on the left side of its infield. Though Ortiz offers a reliable glove at shortstop, he's provided a weak .196/.268/.196 slash line to begin the season. The lack of production at the plate looks like it could be starting to cost Ortiz some playing time.