MLB Player News

Narvaez is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Royals.

Narvaez started Tuesday's game, but this will be the third time over the last four contests that he's been absent from the lineup. He's been in a rut at the dish, going 1-for-23 over his last six contests. Connor Wong will fill in at catcher Wednesday.

Urias (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Nationals.

Urias hasn't played since exited Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks with lower-back spasms and is considered day-to-day. Max Schuemann will get another start at second base in Urias' stead.

Anthony (back) will start in left field and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game versus the Royals.

Anthony missed the previous two contests with mid-back tightness, but he's ready to roll for Wednesday's game. The rookie outfielder -- who agreed to an eight-year, $130 million contract extension with Boston earlier Wednesday -- will carry an eight-game hitting stretch into the series finale.

The Athletics recalled Ferguson from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Ferguson was one of the club's better relievers last season, but he was sent down in June following a rough stretch in which he yielded 10 runs over four appearances. The 31-year-old seemed to get back on track at Las Vegas, permitting just one earned run with an 11:3 K:BB over 10 innings. Ferguson could pitch his way back into leveraged situations in an unsettled bullpen, though that probably won't happen right away.

The Athletics optioned Nunez to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Acquired from the Padres in the Mason Miller trade, Nunez was roughed up for five runs on six hits and four walks over 2.1 innings in his first two appearances with the Athletics. He will be replaced on the 26-man active roster by right-hander Tyler Ferguson, who was recalled from Las Vegas.

DeLuca will start in center field and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

DeLuca will be included in the lineup for the seventh straight contest, but it's not yet clear if he'll be in line for regular starts against right-handed pitching after fellow outfielder Chandler Simpson returned to action in Tuesday's 7-3 win following a four-game absence due to a finger issue. The Rays could open up more time for DeLuca if they opt to rotate a number of other regulars at the designated-hitter spot and commit to Yandy Diaz as a full-time first baseman while Jonathan Aranda (wrist) is on the injured list.

Mangum is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mangum will hit the bench against Angels southpaw Tyler Anderson after the outfielder had started in each of the Rays' previous three contests. The 29-year-old rookie is a switch hitter, but he's been far more effective against righties (117 wRC+, .338 wOBA) than lefties (27 wRC+, .208 wOBA) this season.

Walls is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls will head to the bench after he went 2-for-12 with a walk, a stolen base, an RBI and two runs while starting in each of the past four games. Though the Rays have both Brandon Lowe and Ha-Seong Kim healthy for one of the few times all season, Walls could continue to see semi-regular opportunities in the middle infield if Lowe ends up getting more exposure to first base while Jonathan Aranda (wrist) is on the shelf.

Morel will start at designated hitter and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays appear to be viewing the right-handed-hitting Morel exclusively as a short-side platoon player; each of his last six starts have come against left-handed pitching. Even as a streaming option against lefties, Morel hasn't been providing much value, as he's slashed just .181/.245/.330 with three home runs in 102 plate appearances versus southpaws heading into Wednesday.

Fortes will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Though he'll crack the starting nine for the series finale, Fortes looks poised to work in a timeshare behind the dish with Hunter Feduccia, after the latter was acquired from the Dodgers on Thursday. Feduccia had started in three of the previous four contests and may hold a slight edge over Fortes in terms of playing time at the moment.