MLB Player News

Barnes was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

It's not yet clear whether Barnes has tested positive for the virus himself or if he's merely out due to contact tracing, so it's hard to say how much time he'll need to miss. Adam Ottavino should be the top option for saves until he returns.

Mayers will start Monday's game against the Yankees, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Mayers last pitched Friday and will make his first start of the season for the Angels in what is likely to be a bullpen game. The right-hander hasn't pitched more that two frames in an appearance this season, and that's unlikely to change while starting Monday's contest. He has a 4.07 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 74:20 K:BB over 59.2 innings this season.

Abreu was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Abreu struggled mightily in a relief appearance Sunday and allowed seven runs on five hits and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning against the Rangers. He'll attempt to right the ship in the minors after Brandon Bielak was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

Burdi was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday.

Burdi was claimed off waivers by the Orioles on Aug. 18, and he recorded a 3.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in three innings across his three appearances at Triple-A Norfolk. He posted a 6.00 ERA in nine innings across six appearances with the White Sox earlier in the season, and he should serve mainly as a low-leverage reliever with his new club.

Yacabonis was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Monday.

Yacabonis' contract was selected Saturday, but he didn't make any appearances during his two days in the major-league bullpen. The right-hander recorded a 1.72 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 31.1 innings across 24 appearances (one start) at Triple-A Tacoma this year and will likely remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

The Rays optioned Fleming to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Fleming's demotion comes one day after he was pummeled for four runs over 1.1 innings in relief during Sunday's 12-8 win over the Orioles. Tampa Bay reinstated reliever J.P. Feyereisen (shoulder/biceps) from the 10-day injured list to join the bullpen as a replacement for Fleming, who was recently bumped out of the rotation following Chris Archer's return from the IL. Fleming is expected to get stretched back out as a starter at Triple-A, but he likely won't fill that role in Tampa Bay again this season unless injuries affect the Rays' rotation depth.

The Rays reinstated Feyereisen (biceps/shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Tampa Bay sent long reliever Josh Fleming out to Triple-A Durham to clear a spot in the bullpen for a high-leverage arm in Feyereisen, who had been on the shelf since July 21 with shoulder discomfort and right biceps tendinitis. Prior to being sidelined, Feyereisen compiled a 2.42 ERA and 1.34 WHIP to go with three saves and three holds in 21 appearances since coming over in a late-May trade with the Brewers.

Fleming surrendered four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings in relief during Sunday's 12-8 win over the Orioles.

With starter Chris Archer lifted after four innings and 59 pitches in his return from an injury, Fleming was available to provide length out of the bullpen. The Rays likely would have wanted Fleming to eat more innings, but after he nearly squandered four- and six-run leads during his time on the mound, he was pulled after 30 pitches. Now that the Rays have regained some rotation depth with the recent return of Archer from the injured list as well as Drew Rasmussen's emergence as a starter, Fleming is expected to stick in the Tampa Bay bullpen moving forward.

Brasier (concussion) joined the Red Sox in Tampa Bay on Monday for the start of their four-game series with the Rays and could be activated from the 60-day injured list in the coming days, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports.

A key reliever for Boston each of the past three seasons, Brasier hasn't debuted for the big club in 2021 after he was slowed by a significant calf strain in spring training before suffering a concussion when he was struck by a line drive in a simulated game in early June. He was cleared to begin a rehab assignment Aug. 10, and over his last four appearances between Triple-A Worcester and Double-A Portland, he tossed four shutout innings while allowing just one baserunner. Whenever the Red Sox add him back to the active roster, expect Brasier to work in a low-leverage role initially.

Jax (3-3) allowed six runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five over five innings Sunday in a 6-2 loss to the Brewers.

Jax had a clean opening inning but was chased for six runs over the next three frames. Luis Urias took him deep in the second for a solo homer. A double and a walk would put two runners on in the third before Rowdy Tellez cleared the bases with a three-run blast and then Kolten Wong would drive in two more in the fourth with a double. The 26-year-old has given up 15 runs over his last two outings, which has inflated his ERA to a 6.71 to go along with a 1.40 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB over 53.2 innings. Jax lines up for a tough matchup against the Rays his next time out.