MLB Player News

Howard was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

Howard had a disastrous appearance last month with the Rangers but has pitched well in the minors this season after recovering from a lat strain. He figures to be used in low-leverage situations.

Speas was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

Speas impressed in his major-league debut but was then knocked around in his next two appearances. Spencer Howard will take his spot in the bullpen.

Smith was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Smith holds a 6.59 ERA in 10 relief appearances with Oakland this season. He's clearing out to make room for Angel Felipe's return from paternity leave.

Felipe was activated from the paternity leave list Tuesday.

Felipe has pitched well during his brief time with the Athletics this season, allowing just one run over 6.1 innings. He should occupy a middle-relief role.

The Red Sox activated Schreiber (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

In what will be his first appearance for Boston since May 15, Schreiber will serve as the team's opening pitcher in Tuesday's game against Atlanta. Schreiber is unlikely to work more than an inning or two before giving way to Nick Pivetta, who is expected to serve as the team's primary pitcher out of the bullpen.

Bradford will not start for the Rangers on Tuesday in Houston as initially reported.

Bradford could wind up going multiple innings as a bulk reliever, but the Rangers have opted to open with Yerry Rodriguez. The Astros will be going with a traditional starter in J.P. France.

Rodriguez will serve as the Rangers' opener for Tuesday's game in Houston.

The Rangers had initially listed Cody Bradford as Tuesday's starter, but they've apparently reversed course and will go with Rodriguez first. Bradford is a candidate for bulk relief innings, as is Owen White.

Bradford will start for the Rangers on Tuesday in Houston, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

It's Nathan Eovaldi's spot, but the Rangers have opted to skip Eovaldi's turn in the rotation after he's experienced a recent dip in velocity. Half of Bradford's appearances for Texas this season have been starts and he was used as a starter at Triple-A Round Rock, but lately he's been used more in relief, including last Friday when he went 1.1 innings versus the Dodgers. Thus, this could be more like an extended opener situation. Owen White would seem to be a candidate to eat up some innings in relief.

Pressly (3-2) pitched a scoreless ninth inning while allowing one hit and striking out one to earn the win Monday against the Rangers.

Pressly entered the game in the ninth inning with the score tied at 9-9. He allowed a two-out single but otherwise stayed out of trouble to turn in his third consecutive scoreless outing. Pressly struggled immediately out of the All-Star break by allowing three earned runs across his first three frames, but he remains locked into the closer role and has been effective for the vast majority of the campaign.

Sewald (3-1) took the loss in the extra inning against the Twins on Monday, allowing an unearned run on two hits over one-third of an inning.

Entrusted with preserving a 3-3 tie when he entered in the 10th inning, Sewald was in an immediate high-leverage scenario with leadoff hitter Christian Vazquez moving automatic runner Donovan Solano to third base with a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Carlos Correa laced a game-winning single to right field, saddling Sewald with his first loss of the season. The hiccup snapped what had been a streak of impressive work for Sewald, who'd posted a 10:2 K:BB across 5.1 scoreless innings in his previous six appearances.