MLB Player News

Waguespack (shoulder) has been shut down from throwing due to a lower-back issue, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Waguespack has been shelved since May 6 due to inflammation in his right shoulder but was given the green light June 24 to begin a rehab assignment. However, he's picked up a lower-back injury that will require him to be shut down for an unspecified period of time.

Lovelady's (forearm) rehab assignment was transferred to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Lovelady made his first rehab appearance Monday with the Rays' Florida Complex League affiliate, but he yielded four runs over two-thirds of an inning before being pulled. Still, he'll be bumped up to Durham to continue his rehab from a strained left forearm.

Merryweather (ribs) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

It will be his first game action in three months, as Merryweather has been shelved with a rib stress fracture. Given his lengthy absence, the reliever will need a handful of rehab appearances before the Cubs are ready to activate him.

The Red Sox designated Uwasawa for assignment Tuesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Uwasawa will yield his spot on the 40-man roster to Trey Wingenter, who was acquired Saturday via trade and is getting called up by Boston. Uwasawa registered a 6.54 ERA in 42.2 innings at Triple-A Worcester this season. Assuming he clears waivers, the 30-year-old should remain in the Red Sox organization.

Bednar (oblique) has been sent to Double-A Altoona to begin a rehab assignment.

Bednar has missed the last two-plus weeks with a left oblique strain but was cleared for rehab games after getting through a bullpen session over the weekend with no issues. It's possible he requires just the one rehab appearance before being activated, although with the All-Star break looming, the Pirates also have the option of taking things a little slower with their closer.

The Rangers transferred Pruitt's (knee) rehab assignment from the rookie-level Arizona Complex League to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

Pruitt will likely stick around at Round Rock throughout the week before potentially returning from the 60-day injured list following the All-Star break. He made three rehab appearances in the ACL over the past two weeks, covering four innings and striking out four while giving up one run on five hits and no walks.

Speier (shoulder) is slated to throw a live batting practice either Tuesday or Wednesday, after which a decision will be made on when he'll begin a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

Speier has been in a throwing progression since late June, but the imminent live batting practice session will mark his first time facing hitters since May 29. The southpaw will presumably need to make at least a couple of appearances with a minor-league affiliate due the length of his absence, making a pre-All-Star-break return increasingly unlikely.

Pallante and the Cardinals won't face the Royals on Tuesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

The contest will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Wednesday. Pallante will be pushed back a day to start one of the two games of the twin bill and is no longer in line for a two-start week.

Kinley allowed four earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two across two-thirds of an inning Monday against the Reds.

Kinley has worked as a setup man in recent appearances but was called upon in the eighth inning with the Rockies down 2-0 on Monday. He allowed a leadoff home run and then two of the next three batters he faced to reach base to account for the majority of the damage against him. The Rockies appear to be using a committee approach in the closer role, but Kinley's last save came on June 11.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said that Fleming will start Tuesday's game versus the Brewers, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

He'll be filling the rotation spot that opened up when Jared Jones (lat) was placed on the injured list. Fleming will be pitching on two days' rest and hasn't gone more than two innings or exceeded 27 pitches across his last five appearances, so he's unlikely to work deep enough into Tuesday's start to qualify for a win.