MLB Player News

Mullins is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays will give the left-handed-hitting Mullins the night off while southpaw MacKenzie Gore starts for the Rangers. Jonny DeLuca will take over in center field after Mullins had been included in the lineup in each of the previous four games.

Palacios is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

After starting in each of the Rays' last three games, the left-handed-hitting Palacios will retreat to the bench while southpaw MacKenzie Gore takes the mound for the Rangers. Ben Williamson will replace Palacios at second base and will bat seventh.

Nationals manager Blake Butera said Wednesday that Irvin (shoulder) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Thursday's game in Atlanta, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Irvin has been shelved since late May while working his way back from a right shoulder strain. He pitched well in three rehab starts, covering 11.1 shutout frames with a 12:1 K:BB and just two hits allowed. Irvin authored a 5.23 ERA in 11 starts before getting hurt, however, so his leash on a rotation spot with Washington may not be long.

Pasquantino (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

Pasquantino was lifted in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 3-2 loss after dealing with soreness in his right hand, the same one he had surgery on in mid-June to address a hamate fracture. Per MLB.com, the Royals planned to evaluate Pasquantino further Wednesday, but it's not yet clear if he'll need to miss more than one start. Salvador Perez will fill in for Pasquantino at first base.

Nootbaar is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Cubs.

The left-handed-hitting Nootbaar starts fairly often versus lefty pitchers, but he will begin Wednesday's festivities on the bench as the Cubs deploy southpaw Matthew Boyd as their starting pitcher. Jose Fermin will patrol left field and bat sixth for St. Louis.

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.