MLB Player News

The Astros designated Montero for assignment Wednesday.

Montero is in the second year of a three-year, $34.5 million contract, and the Astros appear willing to absorb what remains on that deal. The veteran reliever made 41 appearances for Houston this season, posting a 4.70 ERA and 23:19 K:BB over 38.1 innings. Montero will likely pass through waivers unclaimed and will have the ability to elect free agency.

Cortes (5-9) earned the win Wednesday over the Phillies, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

Cortes' name came up in trade rumors leading up to the deadline, but the left-hander ultimately remained with the Yankees and he rewarded them with a strong outing Wednesday. Cortes held the Phillies without a hit through three innings before giving up a pair of runs in the fourth followed by a Weston Wilson solo homer in the fifth. However, the Yankees would hang on for a 6-5 victory, giving Cortes his first win since June 18. The 29-year-old Cortes now sports a 4.16 ERA on the season with a 1.20 WHIP and 122:28 K:BB across 129.2 innings. He's currently lined up to face the Angels at home in his next outing.

McCormick will start in right field and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

McCormick seems to have re-emerged as the Astros' preferred option in right field in the absence of Kyle Tucker (shin); he'll draw his fifth start at the position in seven games. Trey Cabbage and Joey Loperfido have picked up the other two starts, and the latter has since been traded to the Blue Jays and replaced on the roster by another outfielder in Pedro Leon. While the Astros could eventually look to Leon, Cabbage or Mauricio Dubon to pick up more reps in the corner outfield, McCormick has gone 5-for-14 with a solo home run over his last four starts to rebuild a little job security for the time being.

Caratini will start at designated hitter and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The Astros have shown more of a willingness to use Yordan Alvarez in left field of late, and it's helped open up more playing time for Caratini. He's now started in three of the last four games, with the previous two starts coming at catcher while fellow backstop Yainer Diaz served as Houston's DH. In addition to providing quality defense behind the plate, Caratini has held his own with the bat this season, hitting .276 with five home runs and 19 RBI over 128 plate appearances.

LeMahieu went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and a two-run double in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Phillies.

Making his first start in five games, LeMahieu would ultimately drive in all six of New York's runs in the winning effort -- he launched a grand slam off Cristopher Sanchez in the second inning to give the Yankees an early 4-0 cushion before extending the lead to 6-3 in the sixth with a two-out, RBI double off Jose Ruiz. It was a much-needed performance for LeMahieu, whose last multi-hit game came on July 9. He'd gone just 2-for-32 (.068) in his subsequent 14 contests. Despite his effort Wednesday, LeMahieu is still likely stuck on the short side of a platoon with Ben Rice at first base, with Jazz Chisholm taking over at third. LeMahieu's still slashing just .182/.270/.252 through 164 plate appearances this year with two homers, 19 RBI and 13 runs scored.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Westburg has been diagnosed with a fractured right hand after exiting Wednesday's 10-4 win over the Blue Jays, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Westburg suffered the injury on a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hyde said that the Orioles are hoping to get Westburg back before the end of the regular season, but a clear timetable for his return hasn't yet established. Westburg's absence could open the door for top prospect Coby Mayo to receive a call-up to the majors, though the Orioles could also stick with Ramon Urias at third base and Jackson Holliday at second base.

Bradley (6-5) took the loss Wednesday against Miami, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out six.

Bradley was stung by the long ball Tuesday -- after giving up a solo homer to Jonah Bride in the second inning, the right-hander surrendered a two-run shot to Jake Burger in the third that put the Rays in a 4-2 hole. Bradley hadn't allowed more than two runs in nine straight starts prior to Wednesday -- he'd pitched to a stellar 0.82 ERA in that span (55 innings). Overall, the 23-year-old Bradley now sports a 2.71 ERA on the year with a 1.01 WHIP and 103:28 K:BB across 15 outings (86.1 innings). He'll look to get back on track in his next start, currently scheduled for early next week in St. Louis.

Varsho was removed in the seventh inning of Wednesday's game against the Orioles due to heat illness symptoms. He went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run before leaving the game.

The Blue Jays were trailing by five runs when Steward Berroa came off the bench in the bottom of the seventh to replace Varsho, so it's possible the 28-year-old would have stayed in the game had the score been more competitive. With the 0-for-2 showing prior to his departure, Varsho's batting average (.199) now sits below the Mendoza Line for the season. Varsho will have a team off day Thursday to recover from the illness before potentially returning to the lineup Friday against the Yankees.

Kepler was removed in the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the Mets due to a head injury, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run before leaving the game.

Kepler suffered the injury during his plate appearance in the fourth inning, when he was hit in the helmet by Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez's attempted throw to second base. He was ruled out for interference on the throw, but Kepler was back in right field for the bottom of the fourth. Either Kepler wasn't quite feeling 100 percent or the Twins wanted to check in for concussion symptoms as a precaution, as Manuel Margot came off the bench to replace him in the outfield an inning later. Consider Kepler day-to-day heading into the Twins' next game Friday versus the White Sox.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said after Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Marlins that Palacios is nursing a hyperextended right knee and is considered day-to-day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Palacios was lifted from Wednesday's game against the Marlins after just two innings with the injury. Cash noted that the utility player will be re-evaluated Thursday before the team heads out on its road trip, but at least for the time being, Palacios looks to have avoided a serious injury.