MLB Player News

The Nationals transferred Parker (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Parker is likely to undergo Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed with a Grade 3 UCL sprain in his left elbow, so the Nationals will stash him away on the 60-day IL for the rest of the season. The move creates space on the 40-man roster for Kyle Nicolas, who was acquired from Baltimore on Wednesday.

The Orioles traded Nicolas to the Nationals on Wednesday in exchange for infielder Randal Diaz.

Nicolas was pushed off the Orioles' 40-man roster Saturday, but he'll reclaim a roster spot upon joining the Nationals. The 27-year-old righty will report to Triple-A Rochester after turning in a 5.40 ERA and 2.30 WHIP across 20 innings in the minors this year.

Dreyer will start Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

The Dodgers will rely on their bullpen to get through Wednesday's contest, and it'll be Dreyer getting the call to take the mound for the first inning. The 27-year-old will be making his first start of the season after posting a 3.51 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 33.1 innings out of the bullpen.

The Pirates optioned Bidois to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

After making just three outings for Pittsburgh since being called up on June 13, Bidois will head back to Indianapolis. The 25-year-old most recently appeared Monday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two in just two-thirds of an inning against Philadelphia. The Pirates will replace Bidois with Cam Sanders on the 26-man roster.

The Pirates recalled Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Sanders has given up just two earned runs while striking out 19 batters in 10 innings since being sent down to Triple-A at the end of May. He'll now return to the majors to give the Pirates' bullpen a fresh arm, though he'll likely be limited to low-leverage situations given that he's surrendered six runs in six innings with Pittsburgh. Brandan Bidois was optioned to Indianapolis in a corresponding move.

The Dodgers recalled Barnes from Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of Wednesday's matchup against the Athletics.

In the series finale against the Athletics on Wednesday, Barnes is expected to be a part of a bullpen game for the Dodgers. The 30-year-old will make his first major-league appearance since May 16, when he pitched a scoreless frame and picked up a strikeout against the crosstown Angels. To make room for Barnes on the roster, the Dodgers optioned Wyatt Mills to Oklahoma City.

Waldrep could start Thursday's game against the Cardinals if he isn't needed out of the bullpen Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Reynaldo Lopez is starting Wednesday's game, and if he's able to go at least 4-to-5 innings, Atlanta will likely go with Waldrep as its starter for Thursday's series finale. If the right-hander has to pitch in relief Wednesday, however, Grant Holmes could draw Thursday's start. Waldrep had surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow back in February, but he threw 55 pitches over two scoreless relief innings during his season debut for Atlanta last week. His highest pitch count over five minor-league starts was 71, so the righty isn't fully stretched out yet.

Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that Keller (forearm) is expected to return before the All-Star break, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Keller threw a live batting practice session Tuesday and could make a rehab appearance Friday. The right-handed reliever has been sidelined since mid-June with forearm tendinitis, and he might require just the one rehab outing before being reinstated from the 15-day injured list.

Lopez will start Wednesday's game against the Cardinals in Atlanta.

Lopez will be making his second straight appearance as a starter, though Mark Bowman of MLB.com previously reported that Atlanta could once again have Hurston Waldrep piggyback the veteran right-hander. In his last appearance Friday in San Francisco, Lopez threw three innings of one-run ball before Waldrep followed with two scoreless frames in relief. Lopez tossed 57 pitches in that outing, but even if he gets piggybacked agin, he could still push up his pitch count a bit more Wednesday.

Assad worked in relief during Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Padres, striking out one over 2.2 innings while allowing four earned runs on five hits and two walks.

After a three-game run as a starter during which he went 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 16.2 innings, Assad was somewhat surprisingly deployed in relief Tuesday. In his second start back from the injured list, Matthew Boyd was lifted after covering the first five innings, with Assad entering behind him and being tasked with protecting a five-run lead. Assad's move to the bullpen doesn't sound like it will be a permanent one, with manager Craig Counsell telling Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network on Wednesday that the right-hander will make one more start before the All-Star break. However, with Jameson Taillon (hamstring) nearing a return from the injured list, Assad could be the odd man out of the rotation when the Cubs open their second-half schedule.