The Royals optioned Avila to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

He's being sent down in order to clear a spot on the active roster for the return of Cole Ragans (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list. Avila has allowed just one run with an 11:4 K:BB over 9.1 frames with the big club, but having minor-league options remaining worked against him.

The Nationals recalled Lao from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Lao was claimed off waivers by the Nationals earlier this month and is now poised to make his team debut. The right-handed reliever has permitted four runs (three earned) over 3.1 frames covering two appearances at the big-league level.

The Nationals optioned Ribalta to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Ribalta pitched each of the last two days, allowing a total of four runs over two innings. He's being replaced on the active roster by Sauryn Lao, who was called up from Rochester to give the Nationals a fresh bullpen arm after Tuesday's doubleheader against Atlanta.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Wednesday that he expects Vasil to remain in the bullpen next season, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Vasil was a starter throughout his time in the minors with the Mets before the White Sox plucked him in the Rule 5 Draft last offseason, so he'd be capable of getting stretched out. However, Getz and the White Sox like the versatility Vasil provides in the bullpen, with his ability to eat multiple innings and appear in high-leverage situations, depending on what is needed. Vasil has posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 77:47 K:BB over 95.2 innings, picking up five wins, four saves and two holds along the way.

The Rays optioned Gerber to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Gerber pitched well in two relief outings for the Rays, allowing one run with a 4:0 K:BB across 4.1 frames. He's being replaced by a fresh bullpen arm, as the Rays have summoned Cole Wilcox from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move.

The Pirates optioned Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Sanders was up with the Pirates for just three days following his call-up from Indianapolis and made his lone appearance Monday, when he gave up a run in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen in Pittsburgh's 4-0 loss to the Cubs. He'll give up his spot on the 28-man active roster to right-hander Yohan Ramirez (personal), who was reinstated from the paternity list.

The Pirates reinstated Ramirez (personal) from the paternity list Wednesday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Ramirez will rejoin the Pirates after he spent the maximum three days away from the team while welcoming a new child. Pittsburgh optioned right-hander Cam Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis to clear a spot in the bullpen and on the 28-man active roster for Ramirez.

Kittredge worked a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Pirates, though it was Brad Keller who got the ninth and the save.

Keller earned a one-out save Monday and then received a more conventional opportunity a night later, with Kittredge working the seventh inning. Kittredge recorded the Cubs' first three saves after Daniel Palencia (shoulder) hit the injured list, but it appears that Keller is in the closer mix as well. That gives both veteran relievers a temporary boost in fantasy value, though it may be hard to predict who manager Craig Counsell will turn to in the ninth for any given contest. Kittredge has at least earned the opportunity for more high-leverage work, as he has a 2.89 ERA and 26 strikeouts across 18.2 innings with Chicago since joining the team at the trade deadline.

Smith (7-5) blew the save but picked up the win Tuesday, striking out two and giving up a solo home run in the ninth inning of a 7-5 extra-inning victory over the Tigers.

Called in to protect a 3-2 lead, Smith instead served up a game-tying homer to Kerry Carpenter, only for the Cleveland offense to erupt for four runs in the top of the 10th. It's the right-hander's first blown save since Aug. 22, ending a streak of eight straight successful conversions, and since taking over the closer role in late July he's posted a 3.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and eye-popping 33:2 K:BB in 24 innings while securing 12 of 16 save chances.

Cantillo didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 7-5 extra-inning win over the Tigers, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.

The southpaw left the mound with the Guardians clinging to a 2-1 lead, but both bullpens struggled before the game was eventually decided in the 10th. Cantillo has given up one run or fewer in five straight starts, posting a stellar 1.21 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB over his last 29.2 innings. He's scheduled to make his next start on the road this weekend in Minnesota.