MLB Player News

Hays agreed to a one-year contract with the Padres on Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

After the White Sox activated Hays from the 60-day injured list and designated him for assignment Wednesday, he ended up hitting the open market a few days later upon clearing waivers. The Padres will end up bringing Hays aboard on a low-cost deal with the hope that the 31-year-old can fill the short side of a platoon in the corner outfield, and he could even push into an everyday role if he gets hot at the plate to begin his time in the organization. Hays generated a lowly .576 OPS over 44 plate appearances with the White Sox this season but was productive during a recent 11-game rehab stint at Triple-A Charlotte, slashing .279/.289/.605.

Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Lopez had started the last five games, but the left-handed hitter will retreat to the bench against southpaw Cade Povich. Justin Foscue will step in for Lopez at second base and bat sixth.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

After going 1-for-7 with a home run and two RBI as the designated hitter in the first two contests of the series, Pederson will head to the bench against lefty Cade Povich. Corey Seager will get a break from playing shortstop but will stay in the lineup at DH.

Carter is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

After starting in each of the last eight games, the left-handed-hitting Carter will retreat to the bench Sunday while southpaw Cade Povich toes the slab for the Orioles. Cam Cauley will replace Carter in center field and will bat ninth.

O'Neill will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup Sunday against the Rangers.

O'Neill will draw a third straight start after getting on base five times in the first two contests of the series. Since the All-Star break, O'Neill has posted a 1.026 OPS over 15 games, and his red-hot bat looks like it has earned him more opportunities against right-handed pitching.

Taveras will start in right field and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Trade-deadline pickup Christian Franklin picked up starts in the outfield in the Orioles' first two games this week, but he'll hit the bench for a fourth straight contest while Taveras once again plays ahead of him. Taveras has gone just 2-for-10 with a double, a walk and a run scored over the previous three games, so he still has some work to do before solidifying himself as the Orioles' everyday right fielder.

Walls (back) will start at shortstop and bat ninth Sunday against the Mariners, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

The 30-year-old was withheld from the starting nine in Saturday's 3-2 win due to lower-back tightness, but he'll rejoin the lineup for the series finale in Seattle. Walls is batting .103 (3-for-29) with four walks, three steals and 11 strikeouts in his past 12 games.

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

The left-handed-hitting Johnston will be on the bench for the fourth time in five games and has missed out on three starts versus righties during that stretch. With Johnston producing a middling .421 OPS since the All-Star break, the Rockies have opted to rotate a number of players in and out of the lineup in his place.

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

Fermin will be included in the lineup for the sixth time in seven games, with four of those starts coming against right-handed pitching. He could be emerging as the preferred option at third base, as rookie Blaze Jordan (122 wRC+ versus lefties, 52 wRC+ versus righties) has struggled against same-handed pitching this season.

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

Jordan will head to the bench for the second time in the series and has now been excluded from the starting nine in three of the Cardinals' last four matchups with right-handed pitchers. Jose Fermin may have overtaken Jordan the team's preferred option at third base while Jordan has struggled to a .236/.250/.315 batting line (52 wRC+) in 96 plate appearances versus righties.