MLB Player News

The Athletics recalled Alvarado from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, Jessica Kleinschmidt of Baseball America reports.

Alvarado appears set to make his MLB debut in the coming days. Alvarado has thrown 15.2 innings out of the bullpen for Las Vegas this season, registering 12.6 K/9 and a 3.45 ERA. He was claimed off waivers from the Pirates back in January.

The Orioles reinstated O'Neill (neck) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

O'Neill missed roughly two weeks with neck inflammation. With O'Neill back from the IL, the Orioles optioned Coby Mayo to Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. In his first season with Baltimore, O'Neill is slashing a mediocre .215/.284/.385 with just two home runs, 10 RBI, eight runs scored and a 5:21 BB:K across 74 plate appearances.

The Orioles optioned Mayo to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.

Mayo had some defensive lapses and went just 1-for-12 at the plate during his brief stint with the big club. The 23-year-old has nothing left to prove in the minors, but he will nonetheless head back to Norfolk to clear space on the roster for the return of Tyler O'Neill (neck).

Miranda (hand) was activated from the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Miranda is in St. Paul's lineup at third base Friday after missing the previous month with a strained left hand. He hit just .167 over 12 games with the Twins prior to his demotion in mid-April.

The Tigers optioned Hicklen to Triple-A Toledo on Friday.

Hicklen picked up the first two hits of his major-league career Thursday in Colorado but finds himself back in the minors a day later. He's clearing out to make room on the roster for John Brebbia's (triceps) return from the 15-day injured list.

The Tigers activated Brebbia (triceps) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

Brebbia missed three weeks of action with a right triceps strain but is ready to go after making a couple rehab appearances. He permitted just one earned run through nine innings before getting hurt.

The Astros placed Wesneski on the 15-day injured list Friday with right elbow discomfort, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Wesneski struggled during his last start Tuesday in Milwaukee, although it's not clear whether he was injured during that outing or sometime since then. He'll be eligible for activation May 22, but given the nature of the injury, there's a good chance he'll need more time than that. Ryan Gusto is the logical candidate to take Wesneski's spot in the Astros' rotation.

The Astros recalled VanWey from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The right-hander was optioned to Sugar Land last weekend but will quickly rejoin the big club since Hayden Wesneski (elbow) is headed to the injured list. In his first taste of the majors earlier this year, VanWey made six appearances and gave up one earned run on 11 hits with a 2:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings.

Smith is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.

It marks two straight absences and four total over the last six contests. It's a trend that's unlikely to continue, either because Smith will resume a regular role with the big club or he will be sent down the minors so he can play every day. The Astros have Zach Dezenzo in right field and batting seventh Friday.

Wright has been pulled off his rehab assignment due to right shoulder fatigue.

It's not altogether surprising given that Wright is coming back from major shoulder surgery, but it's a less-than-desirable development. The expectation is for Wright to be skipped for 1-to-2 starts before resuming his rehab assignment, but that will depend on how he recovers. Wright has made two rehab starts with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, allowing six runs (five earned) with a 5:3 K:BB over six innings.