MLB Player News

The Red Sox designated Alcala for assignment Tuesday.

Alcala has fanned 46 batters over 40.2 innings this season between the Twins and Red Sox, but he's also walked 23 while posting a 6.64 ERA. Not having minor-league options remaining will hurt him, but it would not be a surprise if another team takes a shot on the hard-throwing reliever.

The Athletics recalled MacIver from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old was optioned to Las Vegas in late July but will make a quick return to the majors to replace Austin Wynns (abdomen) on the active roster. MacIver has handled himself well at the plate in his first 17 big-league games this season with a .737 OPS, but he isn't likely to receive regular playing time while serving as the backup to starting catcher Shea Langeliers.

The Athletics placed Wynns on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with an abdominal strain.

He'll be shelved until at least mid-August while recuperating. Willie MacIver is up as Wynns' roster replacement and will serve as the backup catcher behind Shea Langeliers.

Rafaela is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The absence ends a run of 20 straight starts for Rafaela, who had a .280/.295/.413 slash line with two doubles, a triple, two homers and four steals during that stretch. Masataka Yoshida will receive a start in the outfield Tuesday while David Hamilton gets a turn at second base.

Martin gave up six runs while failing to record an out in Monday's loss to the Phillies.

Martin notched a save last week against the Blue Jays, thrusting himself into the closer conversation as part of a bullpen that's lost Felix Bautista (shoulder) to injury and Gregory Soto, Seranthony Dominguez and Andrew Kittredge to trades. However, in his two appearances since that save, Martin has entered in the sixth inning both times. He managed to pitch around a couple hits in the first of those outings, but he was not so lucky Monday. The Orioles' bullpen remains unsettled, but it seems unlikely Martin will be entrusted with another save chance anytime soon.

The Orioles claimed Garcia off waivers from the Mets on Tuesday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Just within the last month, Garcia has bounced around from the Mets to the Yankees, back to the Mets and now to the Orioles via waivers. The righty reliever holds a 3.52 ERA and 18:4 K:BB over 15.1 major-league innings this season and will join an unsettled Baltimore bullpen.

Loperfido went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI in Monday's win over the Rockies.

All three knocks were singles, but Loperfido still did his share of the damage in a 25-hit, 15-run barrage by the Blue Jays. It's his sixth multi-hit performance in the last 12 games, a stretch in which the 26-year-old is slashing .439/.477/.610 with a double, two homers, four RBI and eight runs. Toronto's outfield is getting crowded with Daulton Varsho back and George Springer (concussion) soon to follow, but Loperfido is making a strong case to maintain a significant role.

The Astros optioned Rooney to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Acquired from the Marlins via trade over the weekend, Rooney will go back to the minors without having made an appearance for the Astros. The lefty holds a 2.45 ERA and 45:23 K:BB over 33 innings at the Triple-A level this season.

Lukes went 3-for-4 with two walks, two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI in Monday's win over the Rockies.

Getting the start in right field and batting leadoff, Lukes set the table for a 15-1 rout by the Blue Jays. It was his first multi-hit performance since July 25, snapping a 4-for-31 skid, but even during that downturn three of his four hits left the yard. The 31-year-old has more than held his own this year while seeing regular action in the majors for the first time, slashing .258/.348/.410 over 285 plate appearances with nine homers, 39 runs and 44 RBI. However, with Daulton Varsho back patrolling center field, playing time will be a little harder to come by for Lukes once George Springer (concussion) is cleared to return as well.

Bednar earned a hold against Texas on Monday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.

Bednar got the call in the eighth frame with the Yankees up by a run. He set the side down in order on 11 pitches (eight strikes). This was a much better outcome than in Bednar's team debut Aug. 1, when he allowed two runs on four hits over 1.2 innings. The veteran reliever entered in the seventh frame in that game, so it appears New York has him tabbed for a setup role. That said, Devin Williams blew his second straight save Monday and has yielded at least one run in three straight outings, so the team could shift to Bednar at closer if Williams continues to struggle.