MLB Player News

The Orioles claimed Rivera off waivers from the Marlins on Wednesday.

Rivera is out of options, so he will report to the major-league club. Once that happens, the Orioles will need to make a corresponding move to their 26-man roster. Rivera slashed only just .214/.294/.269 with one home run in 96 games with the Marlins, but he grades out well defensively at third base, where he could get some reps while the Orioles try to withstand the loss of Jordan Westburg (hand).

Sosa will start at third base and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Giants.

The White Sox will keep Sosa in the lineup for a fifth straight game, with two of his starts coming against right-handed pitching during that stretch. Notably, the struggling Miguel Vargas has been out of the lineup versus righties on both occasions, so Sosa might have at least temporarily unseated him as the White Sox's preferred option at the hot corner. Sosa has produced a lowly .309 OPS since being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on July 30, but Vargas has gone hitless in his last four starts and has performed almost equally poorly (.385 OPS) since making his White Sox debut that same date.

Vargas is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in San Francisco.

Vargas started in both of the first two games of the series but will begin Wednesday's matinee on the bench. The beginning of the 24-year-old's tenure with the White Sox couldn't be going much worse, as he's gone just 5-for-54 (.093 average) at the plate, which includes four straight hitless contests. Lenyn Sosa will occupy third base Wednesday.

Norby went 2-for-4 with two doubles in Tuesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Making his second start for the Marlins, Norby collected his first extra-base hits with his new club. The 24-year-old batted fifth while playing third base, and with Otto Lopez getting a long look at second base, the hot corner figures to be Norby's main home for the rest of the season. Before the trade that sent him south from Baltimore, he had gone just 6-for-32 (.188) with the O's this season but compiled a .300/.392/.522 slash line in 80 games at Triple-A Norfolk.

Urshela went 0-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Tuesday's win over the Phillies.

Signed earlier in the day following the news that Austin Riley (hand) could miss the rest of the regular season, Urshela was immediately inserted into Atlanta's starting lineup as the third baseman and batted eighth. While he didn't do much with his bat, the 32-year-old played steady defense and drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning that provided an insurance run in a 3-1 victory. Urshela struggled earlier in the season with Detroit, slashing .243/.286/.333 in 325 plate appearances with five homers and 37 RBI, but Atlanta has a track record of picking veterans off the scrap heap and turning them into surprising contributors to a playoff push, with Eddie Rosario's NLCS MVP Award in 2021 being perhaps the most notable example.

Smith is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Smith will get a day off while he's managed a .198/.258/.285 batting line since the All-Star break. The Rangers will give Adolis Garcia a start in the designated-hitter spot, while Travis Jankowski will patrol right field.

Bregman (elbow) will serve as the Astros' designated hitter and leadoff batter in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Bregman will return to the lineup for the first time in a week, as he had been on the bench for each of the past five games while dealing with swelling on the back of his right elbow. General manager Dana Brown said earlier Wednesday that Bregman could play third base if needed, but the Astros will ease him back in a non-defensive role in his first game since Aug. 14. Bregman had typically served as the Astros' No. 2 hitter prior to suffering the injury, but he'll move into the leadoff spot Wednesday while normal table setter Jose Altuve gets a day off.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said in a radio appearance with SportsTalk 790 Houston that Bregman (elbow) is expected to be back in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Red Sox as the team's designated hitter.

Brown added that Brown could play "third base if we needed him," but the club will ease him back in at DH as he returns from swelling in his right elbow. Bregman has been out of the lineup for the past five contests while dealing with an elbow issue that popped up when he slept on it awkwardly.

Muncy went 1-for-2 with a solo homer, two walks and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Mariners.

Muncy has homered in both games since returning from a stint on the injured list with a right oblique strain, and he showcased his patient eye at the plate with two walks Tuesday night. The 33-year-old is hitting .228/.331/.510 with 11 homers, 31 RBI, 27 runs and a 23:51 BB:K in 175 plate appearances.

Machado went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's win over the Twins.

Machado's lone hit of the night was a big one, as he brought the Padres level in the seventh with a two-run blast and also forced Bailey Ober out of the game. He's now reached 20 home runs for a ninth consecutive season (not including the shortened pandemic season) and is six homers away from being the Padres' all-time leader in home runs. Machado is slashing .269/.319/.450 with 43 extra-base hits, 73 RBI, 61 runs, six steals and a 34:96 BB:K in 496 plate appearances this year.