MLB Player News

O'Neill (shoulder) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

O'Neill is in the final stages of his recovery from a left shoulder impingement that caused him to land on the injured list May 16. He may need only a couple of rehab outings before rejoining the Orioles, though it will depend on how his shoulder reacts to increased activity. O'Neill has two separate stints on the IL this season and a .188/.280/.325 slash line with two home runs and 10 RBI across 93 plate appearances.

The Mariners reinstated Thornton (abdomen) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.

Thornton landed on the 15-day injured list May 9 due to appendicitis, and it took three weeks for him to recover enough to embark on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma. He'll claim the spot in the Mariners' bullpen that was vacated by Casey Lawrence, who was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Thornton posted a 5.87 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, five holds and an 11:4 K:BB across 15.1 innings prior to his stint on the IL.

The Mariners designated Lawrence for assignment Saturday.

It's the sixth time Lawrence has been DFA'd this season -- the fifth time by the Mariners. He has appeared in five games for Seattle this season and has a 3.00 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 15 innings. The move makes room on the roster for Trent Thornton (abdomen), was reinstated from the 15-day injured list.

Smith (illness) is not in the Astros' starting lineup against the Guardians on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Smith is out of the lineup for a second consecutive game due to an illness, but he's feeling better and could be available off the bench, per Kawahara. The Astros will start Jose Altuve, Jake Meyers and Mauricio Dubon in the outfield for Saturday's contest.

Melton is not in the Astros' starting lineup against the Guardians on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Melton has started in each of the Astros' last five games since making his major-league debut this past Sunday, and he recorded the first RBI of his career against the Pirates on Thursday. He'll be in the dugout for the beginning of Saturday's game while Jose Altuve, Jake Meyers and Mauricio Dubon man the outfield for Houston.

Santana is not in the Guardians' starting lineup against the Astros on Saturday.

Santana saw his 14-game hitting streak come to an end Friday when he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in a 4-2 loss to Houston. He'll be in the dugout for the beginning of Saturday's game while Kyle Manzardo shifts to first base and bats fourth.

Seager is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Nationals on Saturday.

Seager is in the midst of a slump, having gone 0-for-18 with three walks and eight strikeouts over his last five games. He'll begin Saturday's contest in the dugout while Ezequiel Duran starts at shortstop and bats ninth.

The Royals optioned Bowlan to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.

Bowlan is coming off a rough outing against the White Sox on Friday, when he allowed five runs (three earned) on two hits and four walks while striking out one batter in 1.1 innings. In a corresponding move, Kansas City selected Trevor Richards' contract from Omaha.

The Royals selected Richards' contract from Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.

Richards signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on May 9 after being released by the Cubs three days prior. The 32-year-old right-hander struggled with Triple-A Iowa, but he's been better out of the bullpen for Omaha, where he has a 1.69 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, two saves and an 11:5 K:BB across 10.2 innings. Richards will take the spot on the Royals' 26-man roster vacated by Jonathan Bowlan, who was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Walter is in Cleveland on Saturday and will be part of the Astros' taxi squad Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Walter's presence indicates that the 28-year-old southpaw could start in Sunday's series finale against the Guardians, per Kawahara. Walter has a 3-1 record across 11 games (seven starts) with Triple-A Sugar Land this season and holds a 2.08 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 49:7 K:BB across 47.2 innings. He made a spot start for Houston against Tampa Bay on May 20, during which he allowed three hits and one walk while striking out five across five scoreless innings while not factoring into the decision.