MLB Player News

The Rays placed Sulser on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to lower-back spasms.

Tampa Bay recalled right-hander Chris Roycroft from Triple-A Durham to take over Sulser's spot in the bullpen. Sulser, who owns a 4.86 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 46.1 innings with the Rays on the season, will be eligible to come off the IL on Aug. 10.

The Rays recalled Roycroft from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay optioned Roycroft to Triple-A on Saturday, but he'll be eligible to rejoin the big club just four days later after reliever Cole Sulser (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Roycroft is likely to be deployed in lower-leverage spots out of the bullpen while he's up with Tampa Bay.

Imanaga is no longer listed as the Cubs' starting pitcher for Thursday's game in St. Louis and will instead take the hill Friday versus the Yankees at Wrigley Field, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Imanaga isn't dealing with any known injury, so the Cubs' decision to push him back a day simply appears to be a measure to give him and the other members of the Cubs rotation some extra rest. Javier Assad will move from the bullpen to make a start Thursday, sliding into the rotation spot that previously belonged to Jameson Taillon.

The Reds optioned Franco (elbow) to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Franco will report back to Triple-A after he served as the Reds' 27th man for Wednesady's doubleheader with the Guardians. He was active for Game 2 of the twin bill and worked in bulk relief in the Reds' 2-0 victory, earning his first big-league win while striking out two and allowing one hit and two walks over 3.2 scoreless frames before exiting in the seventh inning due to right elbow discomfort. He'll likely undergo further testing before the Reds have a better idea regarding the extent of his injury, but Franco could be at risk of landing on the injured list if he isn't ready to go for his next turn through the rotation.

Martinez is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's tilt in Cincinnati.

Martinez is hitless in four games since coming off the injured list. With the Guardians being idle Thursday, Martinez will get extra time to regroup before likely returning to the lineup for the start of a homestand Friday versus the Diamondbacks. Chase DeLauter will patrol right field Wednesday, Travis Bazzana will be the designated hitter and Gabriel Arias will enter the lineup at second base.

The Guardians optioned Espino to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday.

As expected, Espino will head back to Triple-A after he was called up to serve as the Guardians' 27th man for Tuesday's doubleheader with the Reds. He appeared out of the bullpen in the Guardians' 2-0 loss in the second game of the twin bill, striking out three batters and issuing a walk over a scoreless inning.

Assad will start Thursday's game in St. Louis, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Shota Imanaga had been listed as the starter for Thursday's series finale, but he and the other Cubs starters will be pushed back in order to bake in some extra rest. Assad went three shutout innings out of the bullpen in his last appearance Saturday in Pittsburgh, so he'll be taking the ball on four days' rest. The righty hasn't made a start in nearly three weeks, so he won't have a full workload at his disposal.

Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Right-hander Casey Legumina is opening the game for the Rays, but he's likely to work just an inning or two before left-hander Ian Seymour takes over in bulk relief. With that in mind, the Rangers will send three of their key left-handed bats in Smith, Evan Carter and Joc Pederson to the bench to begin Wednesday's contest. Smith had started in each of the Rangers' last four games, but he could be the odd man out for a regular spot in the infield when Corey Seager (back) likely makes his return from the injured list later this week.

Carter is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Right-hander Casey Legumina is opening the game for the Rays, but he's likely to work just an inning or two before left-hander Ian Seymour takes over in bulk relief. With that in mind, the Rangers will send three of their key left-handed bats in Carter, Joc Pederson and Josh Smith to the bench to begin Wednesday's contest.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Right-hander Casey Legumina is opening the contest for the Rays, but the Rangers will keep the left-handed-hitting Pederson on the bench since southpaw Ian Seymour is on track to pitch behind Legumina in bulk relief. Wyatt Langford will replace Pederson at designated hitter and atop the batting order Wednesday.