MLB Player News
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Denzel Clarke CF | ATH
Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Out of lineup Monday
Clarke is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against Atlanta.
Clarke started all three of the Athletics' games against the Blue Jays in the opening series but went 1-for-9 at the plate with six strikeouts. He'll take a seat Monday, and Lawrence Butler will slide over to center field, while Carlos Cortes bats ninth and plays right field.
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Lawrence Butler CF | ATH
Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Back in lineup Monday
Butler is starting in center field and batting sixth for Monday's game against Atlanta.
Butler made a defensive miscue in the outfield on Opening Day and went 0-for-3 at the plate. He then was omitted from the starting lineup in each of the final two contests against the Blue Jays, but Butler is back in there for a homecoming game in Atlanta.
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Samuel Basallo C | BAL
Orioles' Samuel Basallo: Taking seat Monday
Basallo is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Basallo started each of the Orioles' three games against the Twins in the opening series, going 2-for-10 at the plate with a 2:4 BB:K. With Basallo getting the night off from the starting nine, Dylan Beavers will make the start in right field and bat sixth, while Tyler O'Neill hits fifth as the designated hitter.
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Chase Meidroth SS | CHW
White Sox's Chase Meidroth: Day off Monday
Meidroth is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
With Meidroth getting the day off from the starting nine, Miguel Vargas will bat leadoff and play first base. Lenyn Sosa is getting the start at second base and batting fifth, while cleanup hitter Colson Montgomery kicks over to third base. Luisangel Acuna is batting ninth and playing shortstop. Through three games to begin the season, Meidroth is 3-for-10 at the plate with one double, one home run, one RBI, two runs scored and a 3:3 BB:K.
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Andrew Kittredge RP | BAL
Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Set for rehab assignment
Kittredge (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander developed inflammation in his right shoulder earlier this month, but it sounds like his stay on the 15-day injured list will be short if he avoids setbacks while out on assignment. Once healthy, Kittredge figures to occupy a top spot in the bullpen as a setup man ahead of closer Ryan Helsley.
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Dairon Blanco LF | TEX
Rangers' Dairon Blanco: Outrighted to Triple-A
The Rangers Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com Blanco to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, mmm reports.
He passed through waivers unclaimed after being removed from the 40-man roster last week. Blanco could decline the assignment since he's been outrighted previously, but it appears he plans to stick around in the organization as outfield depth.
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Carlos Estevez RP | KC
Royals' Carlos Estevez: Evaluated for possible IL stint
Estevez (ankle) is likely to remain unavailable to pitch in Monday's game versus the Twins and will be evaluated for a possible stint on the injured list, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Estevez is still sporting a walking boot on his left foot as he recovers from an ankle contusion that he suffered when struck by a line drive Saturday. X-rays came back negative, but the Royals will consider an IL stint for Estevez if he hasn't made enough improvement following Tuesday's off day. Between the ankle injury and declining velocity that dates back to spring training, Estevez's standing as the Royals' closer is on shaky ground. Lucas Erceg notched a save for Kansas City in Sunday's win over Atlanta but could be unavailable Monday since he's pitched back-to-back days. Matt Strahm has also pitched each of the previous two days, so the Royals might have limited bullpen options Monday.
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Jesus Sanchez RF | TOR
Blue Jays' Jesus Sanchez: Belts first homer as Jay
Sanchez went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the A's.
The 28-year-old outfielder crushed a Luis Morales fastball to straightaway center field in the third inning, giving Sanchez his first long ball in a Toronto uniform. Sanchez has rotated starts with Nathan Lukes and Davis Schneider through the first three games of the season, but the former Marlin could end up as the preferred option against right-handed pitching, especially if the Blue Jays coaching staff can unlock more power from his bat. Sanchez has hit between 13 and 18 homers in each of the last five seasons, but his elite bat speed has teased more upside in that department.
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George Springer RF | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: Launches first homer of 2026
Springer went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the A's.
The veteran slugger took Luis Morales deep to lead off the game for the Jays. It was Springer's first long ball of the season, and while he's gone 2-for-14 with four strikeouts through three games, both hits have gone for extra bases as he works to shake off a sluggish spring.
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Dylan Cease SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Flashes more diverse pitch mix
Cease has more confidence in his changeup this season and seems committed to broadening his arsenal, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander has been essentially a two-pitch pitcher during his big-league career, throwing his two-seam fastball and slider over 40 percent of the time last season with the Padres, but in his first outing for the Blue Jays on Saturday, neither pitch reached that mark while his knuckle curve, two-seamer, changeup and sweeper all sat with usage rates between 7.8 percent and 10.0 percent. The changeup was especially impressive, as he's firmed it up a bit to give it more velocity and arm-side run but less vertical drop. The result was eight whiffs on eight changeups that averaged 83.7 mph, as batters sold out to try and meet his usual high-90s heat. "I'm going to keep fine-tuning it," Cease said. "Trying to find a little more consistency with command, but I like where it's at." With batters having more to think about than ever before when facing Cease, he struck out 12 batters in 5.1 innings -- setting a franchise record for Ks in a Blue Jays debut in the process.