MLB Player News

The Astros optioned Ullola to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The righty reliever will head back to Triple-A as the Astros open up room on the active roster for right-hander Ethan Pecko, who was called up from Sugar Land ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Angels. Ullola has surrendered three runs on four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts across six innings with Houston this season.

Ramirez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Ramirez will retreat to the bench after he started each of the previous three games while going 4-for-13 with two doubles, one walk, one stolen base, three runs and two RBI. Joe Mack missed all of those contests while recovering from a shoulder injury, but he'll return to the lineup Wednesday. So long as Mack is healthy, he'll operate as the Marlins' No. 1 catcher, though Ramirez could spell him against left-handed pitching in addition to seeing occasional starts against right-handed pitching as a designated hitter.

Steer will have a follow-up exam on his injured right wrist this weekend, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Recovering from a partial tear of the tendon sheath in his wrist, Steer could be cleared to ramp up baseball activities if he receives good news during his exam. He remains without a clear timeline to return from the 10-day injured list, but more clarity on that front should come after this weekend.

The Astros transferred Matthews (knee) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Ethan Pecko, who was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Angels. Matthews has been on the shelf since July 17 due to a left knee sprain. He had been targeting a return to action for the Astros before the end of the month and had resumed hitting, fielding ground balls and running as of Aug. 8, per MLB.com. However, as a result of his move to the 60-day IL, Matthews won't be eligible for activation until Sept. 12.

The Reds are expected to activate Santillan (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Santillan has retired all nine batters he's faced on his rehab assignment, five of them via strikeout. He's been shelved since late June with an oblique strain, but his return to the Cincinnati bullpen is imminent.

X-rays taken Tuesday showed that Alexander's fractured left hand is fully healed, and he is aiming to rejoin the Orioles' active roster for their series against the Athletics that runs Aug. 28-30, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Alexander will require a rehab assignment first, and that's expected to begin soon. The utility player has been shelved since just before the All-Star break with his hand injury but will be back before the end of this month, if all goes well.

The Brewers optioned Lockridge to Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.

Lockridge will give up his spot on the 26-man active roster to shortstop Cooper Pratt (hamstring), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. After he was activated Aug. 1 following an extended stay on the IL while recovering from arthroscopic right knee surgery, Lockridge had served mostly in a short-side platoon role in the Milwaukee outfield over the last three weeks, slashing .143/.200/.143 over 10 games.

The Brewers activated Pratt (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list. He'll start at shortstop and bat ninth Wednesday against the Mariners.

Pratt was cleared to rejoin the Brewers after going 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and one run scored in his lone rehab game with High-A Wisconsin on Tuesday. Prior to landing on the shelf Aug. 9 due to a right hamstring strain, Pratt had been serving as the Brewers' everyday shortstop, slashing .272/.352/.368 with two home runs, 17 RBI, 20 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and an 18:32 BB:K across his first 159 big-league plate appearances.

Mack (shoulder) will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Mack missed each of the last three contests with a right shoulder injury, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Wednesday's series finale. The rookie catcher sports a .731 OPS with 12 home runs in 76 games for the Marlins this season.

Bogaerts was removed from Wednesday's game versus the Mets in the seventh inning with a right hamstring injury, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Bogaerts grabbed at his hamstring on a swinging strikeout in the top of the seventh inning and did not take the field for the bottom of the frame. The Padres should have more on the infielder's status after the contest. Bogaerts went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored before departing.