MLB Player News

The Dodgers optioned Little to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.

The Dodgers sent Little back to the minors to clear room on the 26-man active roster for right-hander Emmet Sheehan, who was recalled from Oklahoma City to start Sunday against the Astros. Little has served as a middle-relief option over his two stints in the big leagues this season, making two appearances while giving up two earned runs over three innings.

The Diamondbacks selected English's contract from Triple-A Reno on Sunday.

The 28-year-old will receive his first promotion to the majors as Pavin Smith (oblique) heads to the injured list in a corresponding move. English was a third-round pick by the Diamondbacks in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, but he's never developed into a marquee prospect. He has a .336/.388/.546 slash line with nine home runs in 58 games with Triple-A Reno this season but isn't likely to have a major role while up with the big club.

The Dodgers recalled Sheehan from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to his start Sunday against the Astros.

Sheehan will be making his second start of the season with the big club, after he previously struck out six batters over four innings of one-run ball in a June 18 outing against the Padres following his return from the 60-day injured list. During his time in the minors while completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery and in his two starts since being optioned to Triple-A, Sheehan owns a 4.12 ERA in 19.2 innings, but his 0.92 WHIP and 36:2 K:BB offer a better indicator of how dominant he's looked in his return from the major arm injury. Now that he's set to rejoin the Dodgers and could be in line for multiple turns if the team keeps a six-man rotation in place, Sheehan makes for an appealing speculative pickup in fantasy leagues where he's still available.

The Diamondbacks placed Smith on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a right oblique strain.

Smith presumably suffered the injury in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Royals, as he went 0-for-1 with two walks and two runs before being replaced by a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. The 29-year-old will be eligible to be reinstated coming out of the All-Star break, but a longer absence wouldn't be surprising, given the nature of the injury.

Edman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros due to a right pinkie toe injury, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

It's unclear when Edman sustained the injury, but he'll sit for Sunday's series finale after starting the previous six contests. The utility man made his past three starts at second base, but he's expected to shift to the hot corner against right-handed pitchers this week to fill in for Max Muncy (knee), assuming Edman can overcome the toe issue.

Hernandez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros and is undergoing medical imaging on his left foot, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

The veteran outfielder was able to finish out Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Astros after fouling a pitch off his foot, but he'll sit out at least one game while he gets evaluated. Hernandez should be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener at Milwaukee.

Hayes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

After his 12-game hitting streak came to an end in Saturday's 1-0 loss, Hayes will exit the starting nine for what will be his first day off since June 25. Jared Triolo will spell Hayes at third base and will bat seventh.

Bart is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Bart will receive a breather after he started at catcher in the first two contests of the series while going 0-for-7 with four strikeouts. Henry Davis will replace Bart behind the plate Sunday.

In a pregame interview Friday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Sasaki's (shoulder) velocity while throwing from flat ground has "ticked up" to the upper-80s but indicated that the rookie hurler isn't yet ready for mound work, per The Dodgers Bleed Los Podcast.

Sasaki has been on the IL due to a right shoulder impingement since May 13, and he has had his throwing program paused on two separate occasions. However, the right-hander resumed playing catch June 20 and seems to be taking positive steps toward a return. Roberts stated Friday that Sasaki is "kind of letting it rip" from flat ground but indicated that it's "too early" for him to be ready for mound work. It's not yet clear when Sasaki will be able to take that step, but it at least appears that he's on track to be part of the Dodgers' pitching staff at some point during the second half of the campaign.

Doyle is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.

Though Doyle delivered a pinch-hit solo home run in Saturday's 10-3 loss, Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer will stick to his plan of keeping the outfielder out of the lineup for all three games of the weekend series. Schaeffer is hoping that the time off will provide a needed reset for Doyle, who had slashed .175/.204/.272 with a 25 percent strikeout rate dating back to the start of June before he slugged the solo home run Saturday. Mickey Moniak will patrol center field Sunday, but Doyle -- a two-time Gold Glove Award winner -- should settle back into an everyday role within the next few days.