MLB Player News

The Astros optioned Hernandez to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Although he's pitched two scoreless innings since being elevated from Triple-A on Friday, Hernandez will head back to the minors in order to make room for the newly signed Enyel De Los Santos. Hernandez boasts a 1.70 ERA and 0.97 WHIP through 37 innings at Sugar Land, and if he continues at that pace, he more than likely will find himself back in Houston later this season.

Lopez (5-6) earned the win Thursday over the Nationals, allowing only three hits and no walks over 7.2 scoreless innings. He struck out 10.

It was a stellar performance from Lopez, who set a new season high with his 10 punchouts. The left-hander has delivered 17 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three outings after struggling to a 7.13 ERA in his previous four starts. Overall, Lopez's ERA is down to 3.59 on the year with a 1.25 WHIP and 94:30 K:BB across 77.2 innings. Lopez is currently in line for a home matchup with the Rays his next time out.

De Los Santos signed a one-year, major-league contract with the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

De Los Santos elected free agency after being DFA'd by Atlanta on July 30, and he'll now find a new home in the Astros' bullpen. The 29-year-old owns a 4.53 ERA and 1.31 WHIP through 43.2 innings this season and is likely ticketed for a middle-relief role in Houston. In order to clear roster space, the Astros optioned Nick Hernandez to Triple-A Sugar Land and designated Luis Contreras for assignment.

Baldwin will start at third base and bat eighth in Thursday's game against the Mariners.

After being withheld from the lineup in four consecutive games last week, Baldwin appears to have moved back into a near-everyday role. He'll collect his fifth straight start Thursday -- all of which have come at third base -- after going 6-for-12 with a double, two walks and a run scored in the previous four contests.

Rojas is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners.

The White Sox have two openings in the infield after Chase Meidroth (thumb) joined Miguel Vargas (oblique) on the injured list Thursday, but Rojas may not be in line to take on a regular role while the two players are on the shelf. After a stretch of five consecutive starts, the left-handed-hitting Rojas now finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row against a right-handed starting pitcher (Logan Gilbert). Chicago will go with Lenyn Sosa at second base and Brooks Baldwin at third base in the series finale.

Young is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox.

The Mariners will give Cal Raleigh a day off from catching but are keeping his bat in the lineup at designated hitter, so Jorge Polanco will give up his usual DH duties but stay in the starting nine himself by taking over for Young at second base. Young had started in each of Seattle's last six games, going 6-for-17 with a home run, a stolen base, four walks, four RBI and four runs to improve his season-long slash line to .252/.326/.352 over 179 plate appearances.

Teel is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Seattle.

Teel will get a breather after starting each of the last four games (three at catcher, one at designated hitter). Edgar Quero will handle the catching and will bat seventh for the White Sox in Thursday's matinee.

The White Sox designated Varland (undisclosed) for assignment Thursday.

Varland had been on the White Sox's 40-man roster all season, but he had pitched exclusively in the minors before landing on Triple-A Charlotte's injured list in July. Over 5.1 innings with Charlotte, Varland posted a 5.01 ERA and 1.96 WHIP. He made his last appearance for the affiliate June 28 and was later shifted to the 60-day IL, so the White Sox apparently weren't counting on him pitching again until at least late August or early September. He's likely to go unclaimed off waivers and could go back on Charlotte's IL if he opts to stay in the organization and accept an outright assignment to Triple-A.

The White Sox placed Meidroth on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right thumb contusion.

Meidroth hadn't made a start in more than a week as he battled the nagging thumb issue, and the White Sox have finally decided to make a roster move with the infielder. He will be eligible for activation Aug. 15 and should have a good chance to be ready on that date. Colson Montgomery has shifted over from third base to shortstop in Meidroth's absence and will continue to play the latter position while Meidroth is out. Brooks Baldwin is likely to pick up most of the starts at the hot corner as a result.

The Orioles optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

The move frees up a spot on the 26-man active roster for right-hander Rico Garcia, who was claimed off waivers from the Mets. Rodriguez was a waiver claim himself last month and gave up two runs over one inning in his lone appearance with the Orioles this season.