MLB Player News

The Red Sox reinstated O'Neill (knee) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday. He'll start in right field and bat fifth in Wednesday's series finale with Atlanta, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald.

He'll be back in action after spending the minimum 10 days on the shelf with right knee inflammation. Prior to being deactivated, O'Neill had been making most of his starts in left field or at designated hitter, but he could see regular action in right field for the foreseeable future after Wilyer Abreu (ankle) was placed on the IL on Tuesday.

Erceg (forearm) has begun playing catch and could throw a bullpen session as early as Sunday, the Associated Press reports.

The talented setup man just went on the IL on Friday with a retroactive designation to May 26, and Erceg may possibly be tracking toward an on-time return if this latest news is any indication. Assuming the bullpen session unfolds on schedule and without setbacks, Erceg could potentially be activated Monday, the first day he'd be eligible.

The Red Sox optioned Heineman to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.

Heineman's latest stint in the majors lasted just one day, and he didn't make an appearance. He's clearing out to make room on the roster for the return of Tyler O'Neill (knee) from the 10-day injured list.

Bleday went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run in a loss to the Mariners on Tuesday.

Bleday produced the only multi-hit effort of the night for the Athletics and pushed his on-base percentage to an impressive .335 with his three trips on the basepaths. The 26-year-old has been wielding a particularly hot bat over the last six games, producing a .348 average (8-for-23) with two doubles, a triple, five walks and two runs while striking out at a modest 17.9 percent clip.

Spence (4-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Mariners, allowing four runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out three over six innings.

Spence was able to toss two shutout frames before the Mariners doubled four times in the third, leading to three runs. Spence would allow an additional run in the fourth but was able to go six up and six down over the next two innings to end his outing. Spence was able to reach six innings for the first time this year, though he battled around plenty of hard contact and only punched out three batters against a Mariners team that has the highest strikeout rate in baseball against righties. The 26-year-old owns a 3.86 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 37:13 K:BB in 44.1 innings and lines up for another start over the weekend against the Blue Jays.

Bliss entered Tuesday's win over the Athletics as a pinch runner in the top of the eighth inning and recorded a steal of second base. He did not log a subsequent plate appearance.

The speedy rookie is already up to three swipes over his first six big-league games, with those numbers coming on the heels of a 28-for-34 showing in the steals department at Triple-A Tacoma. Bliss has seen only one ball drop in thus far over his 15 plate appearances, but he's maintained a presence on the basepaths and set himself up for stolen-base opportunities by also drawing four walks in that span.

McCormick is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCormick is on the bench for the second game in a row and third time in five contests. Yordan Alvarez will occupy left field Wednesday and Jon Singleton will serve as the Astros' designated hitter while McCormick sits.

Meyers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Meyers looks to be receiving a routine maintenance day after producing two hits and two RBI in the first two games of the series. Houston will go with Mauricio Dubon in center field Wednesday as it attempts to complete the sweep of St. Louis.

The Rays optioned Sterner to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

During his first stint in the big leagues, Sterner made a pair of two-inning relief appearances for Tampa Bay and struck out four while giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk. The 27-year-old will cede his spot on the 26-man active roster to right-hander Zach Eflin (back), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Wednesday in Miami.

Bregman (hand) will start at third base and bat second in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Bregman was struck on the left hand by a pitch in Tuesday's 8-5 win. He was able to remain in the game and is back in the lineup a day later after X-rays came back negative. Bregman has hit five home runs in his last eight games.