MLB Player News

The Cubs placed Amaya (ankle) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

After making his return to action in Wednesday's win over the Blue Jays following an extended stay on the 60-day IL due to an oblique strain, Amaya sprained his left ankle when he landed awkwardly on first base. He had to be carted off the field, and while X-rays returned negative, Amaya could require additional testing as the Cubs look to determine the severity of his ankle sprain. With Amaya back on the shelf, Carson Kelly will continue serving as the Cubs' primary catcher and will be backed up by Reese McGuire.

The Cubs recalled Caissie from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The 23-year-old slashed an impressive .291/.391/.567 with 22 home runs over 402 plate appearances this season at Iowa to earn his first look in the majors. How frequently Caissie ultimately plays with the big club will be a question mark. Caissie is limited to the corner outfield and designated hitter, and the Cubs have all of Kyle Tucker, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki at full health and available to fill out those three spots on an everyday basis. The rookie is starting in the DH spot and batting fifth in his major-league debut Thursday in Toronto.

Rumfield is slashing .370/.450/.575 with five home runs, an 11.4 percent walk rate and a 12.8 percent strikeout rate in his last 32 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

A 25-year-old lefty-hitting first baseman, Rumfield doesn't have a clear path to playing time in the majors, but he's doing everything he can to make noise in his second season at Triple-A. Rumfield has the hit tool to profile at the bottom of the defensive spectrum, but he may not have the power, as he has a career .443 slugging percentage and has a .189 ISO this season while being an old-for-the-level first baseman.

France will start at first base and bat fifth in Thursday's game against the Cubs.

Before being excluded from the lineup for Wednesday's 4-1 loss, France had started in each of the Blue Jays' previous six contests and went 10-for-22 with five doubles, one walk, five runs and two RBI. Though he's gotten off to a nice start to his tenure with the Blue Jays after being acquired from the Twins on July 31, France could fade into more of a part-time role once the Blue Jays get George Springer (concussion) back from the 7-day injured list.

Lukes is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.

After starting and batting leadoff in each of the Blue Jays' last three games, the left-handed-hitting Lukes will head to the bench for the series finale while the Cubs send lefty Matthew Boyd to the bump. Toronto will roll out an outfield of Davis Schneider, Myles Straw and Joey Loperfido from left to right in Thursday's contest.

Varsho is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.

The left-handed-hitting Varsho had started in each of Toronto's last five games -- including two matchups with left-handed pitchers -- but he'll head to the bench Thursday while southpaw Matthew Boyd takes the hill for the Cubs in the matinee contest. Myles Straw will replace Varsho in center field and will bat seventh.

Gimenez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cubs.

Gimenez started in the first two games of the series upon his return from the injured list, but the left-handed hitter will take a seat Thursday as the Cubs send southpaw Matthew Boyd to the bump. Ernie Clement will step in at second base for the Blue Jays.

Blackburn (shoulder) struck out three and gave up two earned runs on one hit and one walk over five innings of relief in Wednesday's 11-6 loss to Atlanta.

Activated from the 15-day injured list early in the day after he had been on the shelf since July 3 due to a shoulder impingement, Blackburn was needed for some length out of the bullpen right away when starter David Peterson recorded just 10 outs on 80 pitches (48 strikes). Blackburn had been fully built up as a starter during his minor-league rehab stint, so he was well equipped to handle the heavy workload in relief. With New York moving Frankie Montas to the bullpen to clear a spot in the rotation, Nolan McLean will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse this weekend to serve as the team's new fifth starter. If McLean falters, Blackburn could be next in line to join the rotation.

Kirk is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Cubs.

Kirk started at catcher in both of the first two games of the series, so he'll get a breather in Thursday's finale. Tyler Heineman will fill in behind the dish and will bat eighth in the rubber match.

Lindor went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's loss to Atlanta.

The shortstop has had trouble making a consistent impact with his bat since the All-Star break, but Lindor is at least still getting on base. Through 11 games so far in August, he's compiled a .238/.373/.381 slash line with three doubles, one homer, one steal, five RBI and 10 runs.