MLB Player News

Ober (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game versus the Guardians, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Ober has made two rehab starts, allowing a total of seven runs with a 6:0 K:BB over 8.1 innings. The big right-hander went five frames and tossed 76 pitches in his final rehab outing with Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, so he should be prepared for close to a regular workload against Cleveland. Ober has been on the shelf since late May while nursing a right flexor strain.

Wetherholt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Wetherholt had started in every game since June 14 and played 17 innings between both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader, so the standout rookie is likely just receiving a breather Wednesday. Jose Fermin will check in at the keystone in place of Wetherholt, who is slashing .281/.361/.406 with one home run, seven runs and two RBI through his first eight games of July.

The Pirates recalled Flores from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Flores will provide the Pirates with an extra option behind the plate beyond Henry Davis after Endy Rodriguez (glute) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. The 25-year-old Flores -- who is also capable of playing first base -- was up with the Pirates for a brief spell in June and produced a pair of extra-base hits in his three at-bats. He's cobbled together a .233/.367/.345 slash line with four home runs and no stolen bases across 281 plate appearances at Triple-A this season.

Young is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.

Young started the previous two contests after overcoming a hand injury, but he'll exit the lineup for Wednesday's series finale. Dylan Crews will shift over to center field for the Nationals.

Williams is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

After starting at shortstop for nine straight games, Williams has now been left out of the lineup for each of the Athletics' ensuing three contests. The slick-fielding Williams looks to have shifted into a utility role in the wake of Jacob Wilson's return from the injured list earlier this week in addition to the hot-hitting Joshua Kuroda-Grauer's emergence as a regular in the Athletics' infield.

Nunez is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Astros.

Nunez started the first two games of the series, but the speedy infielder will take a seat in the finale. Jorbit Vivas is handling second base in the rubber match.

Thomas is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

Thomas made six consecutive starts in the corner outfield from June 27 through last Friday, but he now finds himself on the bench for the third time in four games. All three of those absences have come against right-handed pitching, as Thomas looks like he'll have to settle for a short-side platoon role with Carlos Cortes having heated back up at the plate and earned himself more opportunities versus righties at Thomas' expense.

Heim is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

Shea Langeliers is making a second straight start behind the dish after a two-game absence due to a thumb injury, and Tyler Soderstrom (hip) is serving as the Athletics' designated hitter in his return from the injured list. The 31-year-old Heim is on the bench for just the second time in 12 games, as he's played his way into a near-everyday role while producing an .816 OPS since the Athletics acquired him in early May. Soderstrom should eventually shift back into a regular role in left field, so Heim still looks to have a fairly clear path to steady playing time at DH.

Donovan (groin) will work out Wednesday for a second straight day at the Mariners' spring training complex before starting a rehab assignment later this week, assuming all goes well, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Previous reports suggested Donovan would begin playing rehab games in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday. That's been pushed back a couple days, but Donovan should still have a good chance to be activated immediately after the All-Star break. The 29-year-old has been sidelined since mid-May with a left groin strain.

McNeil is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

The left-handed-hitting McNeil has now sat in three straight games, including two matchups versus right-handed pitchers. The 34-year-old has struggled to a .227/.297/.305 batting line on the season, with his .597 OPS representing a career-low mark by 82 points. The Athletics' patience with McNeil may be wearing thin, especially while rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer has made a case for steady playing time by producing a 1.058 OPS through seven games since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas last week. Kuroda-Grauer will receive the nod at second base Wednesday and could continue to play ahead of McNeil while he's wielding a hot bat.