MLB Player News

The Rays optioned Alexander to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Alexander allowed four runs over 3.2 innings in bulk relief Wednesday, picking up a win over the Twins. He wasn't going to be available to pitch for a few days, so the Rays will replace him with a fresh arm.

The Rays designated Jackson for assignment Thursday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Jackson has slashed only .122/.201/.237 in 58 games this season. The Rays will now use Logan Driscoll as their backup catcher behind Ben Rortvedt.

Houck (8-10) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over five innings as the Red Sox fell 8-3 to the Mets. He struck out seven.

The right-hander came out flat, loading the bases before recording his first out and then serving up a grand slam to Jesse Winker. Houck shook it off and didn't allow another run, but Boston couldn't climb out of the early hole. It's the first time in a month that Houck wasn't able to last at least six innings, a five-start stretch in which he'd posted a 3.23 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 20:11 K:BB through 30.2 innings, but he remains winless in nine outings since the All-Star break. Houck will look for a better result in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Orioles.

Headrick (forearm) was activated from the 60-day IL at Triple-A St. Paul. He threw three scoreless innings in Tuesday's win over Iowa.

Headrick was in the running for one of the Twins' final bullpen spots but began the season at Triple-A and then went on the injured list April 8. He's probably run out of time to contend for a big-league promotion, but he'll be ready to compete for a job next spring.

Diaz went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 9-4 win over the Twins.

He took Louie Varland deep in the fourth inning, capping an eight-run eruption for the Rays offense. It's Diaz's 13th homer of the season, and third in his last six games as he catches fire for the home stretch. Over 28 contests since the beginning of August, the 33-year-old is slashing .294/.362/.461 with 12 RBI and 12 runs.

Alexander (6-4) picked up the win Wednesday, coughing up four runs on nine hits over 3.2 innings in a 9-4 victory over the Twins. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The southpaw entered a scoreless game in the top of the fourth inning and watched the Tampa Bay offense erupt for eight runs in the bottom of the frame, but Alexander fell apart himself in the seventh, serving up homers to Kyle Farmer and Carlos Santana. Alexander is rounding out a six-man rotation for the Rays, as the team doesn't get its next day off until Sept. 16, but he's been very ineffective in that role -- over his last four appearances, he's been tagged for seven homers in 18 innings, leading to a 7.50 ERA. Assuming he gets another turn, his next outing is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Philadelphia.

Santana went 1-for-3 with two walks and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 9-4 loss to the Rays.

The veteran first baseman took Tyler Alexander deep in the seventh inning, giving Santana homers in back-to-back games. He's up to 20 long balls on the year, the ninth time in his career he's reached that mark, but as per usual he isn't doing much for fantasy GMs in batting average -- over 30 contests since the beginning of August, Santana's slashing .206/.322/.423.

Varland (0-6) took the loss Wednesday, surrendering eight runs on five hits and a walk over 2.1 relief innings as the Twins were downed 9-4 by the Rays. He struck out one.

After Ronny Henriquez worked a scoreless inning as Minnesota's opener, Varland got the call and sailed through two perfect frames of his own before the wheels came off in the fourth. Some questionable defense contributed to the disaster, including the right-hander's own throwing error on a pickoff attempt, and a two-run homer by Yandy Diaz finally ended Varland's night. The Twins don't get a day off until Sept. 12, so they may continue rolling with a six-man rotation, but there's no guarantee Varland will be the sixth man after this performance left him with a 7.62 ERA and 1.69 WHIP for the season. If he does get another turn, either as a starter or bulk reliever, he lines up to take the mound at home early next week against the Angels.

Fletcher went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer and three total RBI in Wednesday's 8-1 win over the Orioles.

Fletcher had gone 54 games with a long ball this season before he cranked a two-run shot off Albert Suarez in the fourth inning Wednesday. The 27-year-old Fletcher had gone 0-for-9 in his previous nine contests. Overall, he's slashing just .217/.267/.280 with 12 runs scored and 13 RBI across 173 plate appearances this year.

Vaughn went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 8-1 win over Baltimore.

Vaughn put the White Sox ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning with a 413-foot blast off Albert Suarez, his 16th homer of the year. Vaughn recorded his first multi-hit game since August 25 -- the first baseman had been stuck in a 1-for-25 slump across seven contests coming into Wednesday. Overall, Vaughn's slashing .237/.292/.393 on the year with 60 RBI, 50 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases across 534 plate appearances.