MLB Player News

Pham isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.

Pham will get a breather Thursday after slashing .339/.406/.500 through his first 15 games following the All-Star break. Jack Suwinski will take his place in left field and bat sixth for the Pirates.

Stephenson is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt in Pittsburgh.

It appears to be a routine day off for Stephenson, who had started five of the previous seven contests. Jose Trevino will do the catching and bat eighth in Thursday's series opener.

Marte is starting in right field and batting seventh in Thursday's game versus the Pirates.

Instead of benching Marte after trading for Ke'Bryan Hayes, the Reds have made Marte their full-time right fielder, starting him at the position six times across their last seven tilts. Marte is slashing only .216/.216/.324 over his last 10 games and will likely need to pick it back up offensively if he wants to continue playing every day, but Cincinnati appears prepared to do what it can to keep the 23-year-old's bat in the lineup.

Parker (7-12) took the loss Thursday against the A's, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out four.

It was another tough outing for Parker, who's struggled to a 7.76 ERA over his last six starts. Overall, the left-hander's ERA is up to 5.43 on the season with a 1.48 WHIP and 81:46 K:BB through 23 starts (122.2 innings). Parker will look to get back on track his next time out, which is tentatively lined up to be a road matchup with the Royals.

Fraley is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.

It's right-hander Paul Skenes on the hill for the Pirates, but the left-handed-hitting Fraley will nonetheless begin the contest on the bench. Fraley looks to have fallen behind Noelvi Marte in the Reds' outfield hierarchy, as Marte is starting in right field Thursday for the sixth time across the last seven games.

Susana (elbow) was activated from the 7-day injured list at Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Susana hasn't pitched for Harrisburg since early May after being diagnosed with a right elbow sprain, but he made three rehab starts with High-A Wilmington and had a 16:2 K:BB over nine innings. The righty has collected a 3.86 ERA and 54:22 K:BB over 35 frames covering nine starts between the two stops this season.

The Cardinals claimed Alcala off waivers from the Red Sox on Thursday.

Alcala has split time between the Twins and Red Sox this season, posting a 6.64 ERA and 46:23 K:BB over 40.2 frames. The 30-year-old reliever cannot be optioned to the minors, so he will go onto to the Cardinals' active roster. St. Louis will have to make a corresponding transaction once Alcala officially reports to the club.

Arenado (shoulder) is tentatively slated to rejoin the Cardinals on Aug. 18 before their series against the Marlins, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Arenado is headed to the team's spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida on Friday to strengthen his injured right shoulder before eventually participating in rehab games with the club's rookie-level Florida Complex League squad. If all goes well on that front, he will then make the short drive from Jupiter to Miami to rejoin the Cardinals for the start of a road trip. Arenado has slashed just .167/.219/.200 over his last 17 games since suffering finger and shoulder injuries.

The Brewers sent Zastryzny (ribs) to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday to begin a rehab assignment.

Zastryzny was pulled off his initial rehab assignment in late July following a setback with his rib stress reaction, but he's been cleared for game action again. The lefty reliever should be ready to rejoin the Brewers bullpen around mid-August if he can avoid another setback.

The Brewers optioned McGee to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.

McGee's most recent stint in the big-league bullpen wasn't fruitful, as he yielded seven runs over four frames covering two appearances. The Brewers will announce a corresponding move prior to Friday's game against the Mets, and it could be Shelby Miller (forearm) returning from the 15-day injured list.