MLB Player News

Nationals manager Blake Butera said Sunday that Wood has been progressing more slowly than the team hoped from his left oblique strain, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Wood hasn't been shut down from baseball activities completely, but the 24-year-old outfielder remains in a holding pattern and hasn't been cleared for more strenuous exercises. Per MLB.com, Wood has been throwing at about 65 percent intensity out to 90 feet, taking dry swings at about 70 percent intensity and swinging off a tee at about 60 percent intensity. Based on where he currently stands in his recovery, Wood looks to be at least a week or two away from potentially rejoining the Nationals.

Flores will start at first base and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Flores will draw his fourth consecutive start, two against right-handed pitchers and two versus lefties. With Spencer Horwitz occupying the strong side of a platoon at first base, Flores' main path to playing time will come behind the plate, where he could challenge Henry Davis for starts while Endy Rodriguez (hip) is on the shelf. Since coming off the injured list Aug. 1, Flores has done his part to earn more opportunities by going 7-for-22 with three home runs, two walks, eight RBI and three runs in seven games.

Horwitz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

For the second time in the series, Horwitz will hit the bench while the Red Sox send another lefty to the bump in Patrick Sandoval. Rafael Flores will check in for Horwitz at first base and bat fifth.

Gonzalez is not in the lineup for Sunday's affair with the Red Sox.

With southpaw Patrick Sandoval taking the mound for Boston, Gonzalez will sit out Sunday's rubber match. Jared Triolo will take over at shortstop and lead off for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates optioned Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

The Pirates recalled Hunter Barco from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace Dotel on the active roster and in the bullpen. Dotel owns a 4.71 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB across 28.2 innings at the big-league level this season.

The Pirates optioned Brannigan to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

After being elevated from Triple-A on Thursday, Brannigan played an inning in the field but didn't log any plate appearances during his three-day stay with the Pirates. He'll return to Indianapolis, where he's produced a .205/.305/.352 slash line with three home runs over 25 games this season.

The Pirates recalled Yorke from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday. He'll start at third base and bat seventh in the Pirates' series finale versus the Red Sox.

Per Jason Mackey of MLB.com, Yorke missed nearly two months of action at Triple-A while recovering from a fractured right middle finger, but the 24-year-old returned to the Indianapolis lineup earlier this week and went 6-for-16 with three home runs and a double in four games. He'll now get the call back to the big leagues for the first time since mid-May, with Pittsburgh optioning Jack Brannigan to Triple-A to make space for Yorke on the 26-man active roster.

The Pirates recalled Barco from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

Barco will be up with the Pirates for the fourth time this season and owns a 7.36 ERA and 2.11 WHIP in 14.2 innings over six appearances with the big club. The left-hander most recently tossed a six-inning shutout for Indianapolis last weekend and could be called upon to cover multiple innings of relief during Sunday's game against the Red Sox. Lake Bachar will be making a spot start Sunday, but he's expected to be in line for a restricted workload after making his first four appearances with Pittsburgh as a reliever.

Dubon is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Dubon will get a breather after making five straight starts, three in left field and two at shortstop. Mike Yastrzemski will get the nod Sunday in left, while Jim Jarvis forms a double-play tandem with second baseman Ozzie Albies.

Nunez is absent from Washington's lineup against the Mets on Sunday.

Nunez will ride the pine Sunday despite picking up at least one hit in four of his last five games. CJ Abrams will slide back to shortstop as the Nationals break him in gradually to his new assignment at the keystone, while Jorbit Vivas covers second base.