MLB Player News

The Yankees placed Gil on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a lower-back strain.

Gil missed most of the past two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he had enjoyed good health thus far in 2024 until he was lifted from his start Tuesday against the Guardians due to the back issue. Will Warren was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre in a corresponding move and could step in as the Yankees' new No. 5 starter in place of Gil, who may be a drop candidate in redraft leagues since he won't be eligible to return from the IL until Sept. 5. The Yankees and fantasy managers alike have already gotten far more than they likely expected from Gil, who had generated a 3.30 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 144 strikeouts over 124.2 innings through his first 24 starts of the season.

The Orioles claimed Rivera off waivers from the Marlins on Wednesday.

Rivera is out of options, so he will report to the major-league club. Once that happens, the Orioles will need to make a corresponding move to their 26-man roster. Rivera slashed only just .214/.294/.269 with one home run in 96 games with the Marlins, but he grades out well defensively at third base, where he could get some reps while the Orioles try to withstand the loss of Jordan Westburg (hand).

The Orioles designated Vavra for assignment Wednesday.

Vavra was added back to the Orioles' 40-man roster in late July, but he was optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk a day later once Baltimore's trade-deadline acquisitions joined up with the club. The 27-year-old will now move back off the 40-man roster as the Orioles clear room for infielder Emmanuel Rivera, who was claimed off waivers from the Marlins. Vavra will now be subject to the waiver process, but if he clears, he would have the ability to elect free agency since he was previously outrighted off the 40-man roster last November. He's produced a .243/.350/.368 slash line with three home runs and two stolen bases over 178 plate appearances at Norfolk this season.

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

Martinez was sent down earlier Wednesday but is back to fill the spot vacated by Kaleb Ort, who went on the paternity list. The Astros will likely option Martinez to Triple-A later this week when Ort returns.

Sosa will start at third base and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Giants.

The White Sox will keep Sosa in the lineup for a fifth straight game, with two of his starts coming against right-handed pitching during that stretch. Notably, the struggling Miguel Vargas has been out of the lineup versus righties on both occasions, so Sosa might have at least temporarily unseated him as the White Sox's preferred option at the hot corner. Sosa has produced a lowly .309 OPS since being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on July 30, but Vargas has gone hitless in his last four starts and has performed almost equally poorly (.385 OPS) since making his White Sox debut that same date.

The Astros placed Ort on the paternity list Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Ort will miss a minimum of one and a maximum of three games while welcoming a new member to the family. His spot on the active roster and in the bullpen will be absorbed by Seth Martinez, who was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land.

Rodriguez, who's exclusively filled a DH role since being activated from the injured list Aug. 11, could resume playing center field during the Mariners' next homestand that begins Friday, MLB.com reports.

The Mariners have unsurprisingly been cautious with Rodriguez's previously sprained right ankle, an injury that led to his near three-week absence. However, manager Scott Servais said Tuesday that Rodriguez is back to running at top speed and therefore is likely to begin playing defense again in coming days. The slugger has been relatively productive while focusing solely on hitting over the last eight games, producing a .258 average with two doubles, an RBI, a walk and two runs across 33 plate appearances in that span.

Rizzo (forearm) batted in a simulated game against Yankees reliever Ian Hamilton on Tuesday, but the first baseman's return timeline is still undetermined, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

That Rizzo was able to take swings against Hamilton -- who threw his full arsenal of pitches -- is a positive sign that his forearm fracture is healing well, but manager Aaron Boone indicated that the team still wants Rizzo to heal further before sending him off on a rehab assignment. The veteran slugger has been out since mid-June and isn't likely to return to New York's lineup until some time in September.

Vargas is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in San Francisco.

Vargas started in both of the first two games of the series but will begin Wednesday's matinee on the bench. The beginning of the 24-year-old's tenure with the White Sox couldn't be going much worse, as he's gone just 5-for-54 (.093 average) at the plate, which includes four straight hitless contests. Lenyn Sosa will occupy third base Wednesday.

Raleigh went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs in a loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Raleigh bounced back from an 0-for-4 night in the series opener Monday to contribute his second multi-hit effort of August. The slugging catcher's two-bagger was his sixth extra-base hit in 15 games this month, and that pop has helped him to a respectable .453 slugging percentage over that span despite a .189 average and 25.4 percent strikeout rate.