MLB Player News

The Nationals optioned Stubbs to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.

Stubbs was promoted by Washington on Friday and will return to the minors after going 0-for-3 in Monday's matchup with Miami. The 28-year-old was demoted to make room on the MLB roster for Jorge Alfaro, who inked a big-league deal with the Nationals on Tuesday.

The Rockies claimed Contreras off waivers from the Orioles on Tuesday.

Contreras doesn't have minor-league options remaining, so he'll be added to the Rockies' 28-man active roster and will serve as a starter or long reliever. Before the Orioles designated him for assignment, Contreras tossed 4.1 scoreless innings as a bulk reliever last Wednesday against the Red Sox in what marked his 2025 MLB debut.

Saggese is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Athletics.

Saggese had started every game since Aug. 8 and has a modest five-game hitting streak going, but he made a pair of errors in Monday's loss to the Athletics. Jose Fermin will cover second base and bat seventh for St. Louis.

Crooks is starting at catcher and batting sixth in Tuesday's game versus the Athletics.

It's just the second start Crooks has made in five contests since being promoted from Triple-A Memphis. He homered in his first start Sunday in Cincinnati. Pedro Pages will begin Tuesday's festivities on the bench.

Walker is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Athletics.

Walker has been in the lineup for nine of the last 10 games, but he has just a .386 OPS and 37.2 percent strikeout rate across his last 16 contests. Nathan Church will be in right field and bat ninth for the Cardinals.

Steer (leg) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.

Steer will miss a second straight start because of a lingering leg issue. He was able to appear in Monday's game off the bench and presumably will be available again Tuesday. Sal Stewart is again handling first base and batting sixth for the Reds.

Barlow will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher in Tuesday's contest versus the Blue Jays, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Nick Lodolo was scheduled to start but was scratched due to an illness, so the Reds will go with an impromptu bullpen game Tuesday. Barlow will likely pitch an inning or two before being followed by a slew of relievers.

Lodolo has been scratched from Tuesday's start against the Blue Jays due to illness, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The Reds will go with a bullpen game Tuesday instead, with Scott Barlow leading the way. It's unclear whether Lodolo's next start will simply be pushed back a few days or if his turn will be skipped.

Ferris has a 3.89 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 124:61 K:BB in 115.2 innings for Double-A Tulsa.

The 6-foot-4 lefty is the second-youngest qualified pitcher at Double-A (Ferris turns 22 in January), so he can be given a little slack for not having pinpoint control at this stage. However, Ferris logged an 11.5 percent walk rate in 28.1 innings at Double-A last year and has an 11.9 percent walk rate this year, so things aren't trending in the right direction. He issued six walks in 6.2 innings in his most recent start Aug. 29 and has walked three or more batters in five of his last six starts, although he has been effectively wild (2.08 ERA, one home run allowed) during that stretch.

The Nationals signed Alfaro to a one-year contract Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Alfaro recently opted out of his minor-league deal with the Brewers after slashing .244/.285/.430 with 15 home runs and 12 stolen bases with Triple-A Nashville. He'll give the Nationals an experienced catcher with Keibert Ruiz (concussion) still working his way back and Drew Millas (finger) out for the season.