MLB Player News

Dezenzo is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

The Astros will go with Zach Cole and Cam Smith as their corner outfielders for the series opener, ending Dezenzo's streak of six consecutive starts in left field during which the 26-year-old went 5-for-19 with a double, a walk and run. Though the Astros recently lost Jose Alutve (oblique) to the injured list, the returns of Jake Meyers and Jeremy Pena from the IL has left five players competing for three spots in the Houston lineup. Dezenzo, Cole, Smith and Brice Matthews are all in the mix for starts in the corner outfield, although Matthews is also battling Braden Shewmake for starts at second base.

The Mariners activated Robles (pectoral) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

In a corresponding move, Seattle optioned Connor Joe to Triple-A Tacoma. Robles hasn't played at the big-league level since April 6 due to a strained right pec. He appeared in 12 games with Tacoma on a rehab assignment and slashed .256/.389/.349 with four doubles, seven RBI, 10 runs scored, two stolen bases and a 9:13 BB:K across 54 plate appearances. He's likely to see most of his at-bats against lefties with the Mariners.

Webb (knee) is slated to make a rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento on Friday and expects to return from the 15-day injured list next week, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Webb has been on the shelf since May 9 due to right knee bursitis, but after checking out fine following a bullpen session Tuesday, he's ready to test himself in a game setting. A Friday rehab start would position the right-hander to rejoin the big-league rotation as soon as next Wednesday versus the Diamondbacks in San Francisco. Once Webb is back in the fold, the Giants will have to decide whether to move forward with a six-man rotation, demote Trevor McDonald to Triple-A Sacramento or move one of Tyler Mahle or Adrian Houser to the bullpen.

The Astros selected Santa's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday.

To make room for the 23-year-old on the big-league roster, Jayden Murray was optioned to Triple-A. Santa will be looking to make his MLB debut during the Astros' weekend series at Wrigley Field. In 18 games with Sugar Land this season, he logged a 2.37 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB across 19 innings.

The Rangers signed Ross to a minor-league contract Friday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Ross was released from his minor-league deal with the Diamondbacks earlier this week after he'd posted an ugly 19.64 ERA across three MLB games. In 12 games with Triple-A Reno, the veteran right-hander logged a 4.29 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB across 21 innings. Ross will provide organizational depth with Texas.

Kuhnel (1-1) earned the win in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Angels. He allowed a hit and a walk with no strikeouts over a scoreless inning.

Kuhnel entered with the game tied in the ninth inning and allowed two Angels to reach base, but he was able to work out of the jam and send the contest to an extra inning, before the Athletics pushed across the winning run in the 10th. The right-hander has been solid this season and has put himself in the high-leverage mix, though he hasn't been given a save situation since April 20. Overall, Kuhnel owns a 2.41 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB with four saves and three holds across 18.2 innings.

The Giants selected Bericoto's contract from Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The 24-year-old has put together a .299/.355/.449 slash line with six home runs over his first 43 contests with Sacramento this season. Bericoto is a corner outfielder and first baseman by trade, and he will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game. It's unclear at this point what the Giants' corresponding roster move will be.

The Cubs recalled Ramirez from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

The 22-year-old will fill the roster spot vacated by Matt Shaw (back). Ramirez has had a scorching start to the season at Iowa, slashing .312/.395/.547 with nine home runs and 19 stolen bases in 43 games. There's not a clear path to playing time for Ramirez, though he offers the flexibility to fill in at multiple positions.

The Cubs placed Shaw on the 10-day injured list Friday with mid-back tightness, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

It's not clear how long the injury has been bothering Shaw, who has just one May 18 plate appearance over the last five days, but a backdated IL stint will keep him out of action for another week-plus, at minimum. Pedro Ramirez is taking Shaw's spot on the active roster.

Beeter walked one and struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning Thursday during a 2-1 loss to the Mets.

The right-hander was activated off the IL earlier in the day and was immediately thrust into a high-leverage spot, taking over from Cade Cavalli in a one-run game. Beeter has been sidelined since April 21 due to forearm soreness, but in his absence no one staked a strong claim to the Nationals' closer job -- Gus Varland leads the team with four saves to Beeter's two. Control remains the biggest obstacle between Beeter and the gig, and through 11.1 innings this season he has a 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB.