MLB Player News

Alexander and the Tigers won't face the Guardians on Sunday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Cleveland.

Alexander had been scheduled to make his fifth start of the season Sunday in what would have been a bullpen day for the Tigers, but the postponement ends up thwarting those plans. The two teams are scheduled to make up the postponed contest Aug. 15 in a traditional doubleheader.

Marinaccio (shoulder) is set to commence his rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barres on Sunday.

Marinaccio has been out since July 2 while dealing with right shoulder inflammation, but it appears possible that he will return to the team following the All-Star break after he starts his rehab assignment Sunday. The right-hander owns a 2.33 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with 23 strikeouts over 19.1 innings in his first 17 career appearances this season.

The Nationals optioned Harvey to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Since he tossed an inning in relief in three of the past four days, Harvey was unlikely to be available for Sunday's series finale versus Atlanta, a game the Nationals are treating as a bullpen day. With that in mind, the Nationals opted to replace Harvey on the 26-man active roster with Cory Abbott, who will be available as a multi-inning relief option after getting a call-up from Rochester.

The Nationals recalled Abbott from Triple-A Rochester ahead of Sunday's game against Atlanta, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Abbott is back with the Nationals three days after he was returned to the minors upon being designated as the 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader with the Mariners. He covered two frames in relief in the first game of the twin bill that day and should be available as a multi-inning option Sunday behind starter Erasmo Ramirez, who won't work deep into the contest in what will be a bullpen day for Washington.

Fairbanks (lat) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Fairbanks will return to the Rays after missing the entirety of the season to this point after tearing his lat in late March. The reliever will provide a boost to the team's bullpen after Jalen Beeks (leg) was placed on the 15-day IL Sunday. Fairbanks produced a 3.59 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 56 strikeouts over 42.2 innings in 47 appearances last season.

Beeks was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right lower leg tightness.

Beeks last pitched Thursday, earning his first save of the season, but he appears to have tweaked something in his lower right leg. The move to the IL was retroactive to July 15, making him first eligible to return July 30. Pete Fairbanks (lat) was reinstated from the 60-day IL on Sunday and will replace Beeks on the active roster.

Bautista disclosed Sunday that he wasn't available for Saturday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Rays due to a sore right hand, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Bautista said he picked up the injury after a mishap with an exercise band. The right-hander isn't certain if he'll be available for Sunday's series finale, but he expects to be ready to go out of the bullpen coming out of the All-Star break.

Martin (0-5) allowed one unearned run on three hits while striking out one over two innings, taking an extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday.

Martin, who has recently filled in as the closer after Joe Barlow (blister) was removed from the role before hitting the injured list, entered a tied contest in the ninth inning. After getting the game into extras, he allowed a pair of hits and the automatic runner to score in the 10th. The left-hander remains an option to close games going forward, though manager Chris Woodward could look elsewhere now that right-handed bullpen stalwart Jonathan Hernandez was activated off the injured list Saturday.

Oller was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas and will start Sunday's contest against the Astros, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Oller will return to the big leagues after being optioned to Las Vegas on June 30, returning to start the Athletics' final game before the All-Star break. The 27-year-old owns a 9.00 ERA and 2.04 WHIP over 23 innings this season, but in the month of June he was able to compile a 3.24 ERA and 1.80 WHIP over 8.1 frames in five appearances. Jared Koenig was optioned to Triple-A on Sunday to open a roster spot for Oller.

Howard gave up two earned runs on five hits and five walks while striking out three in a 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision.

Howard was somewhat effective in his third start since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on July 5. The 25-year-old right-hander managed to eat five innings while giving up only two earned runs on a home run to Carlos Santana. The five free passes are concerning, but the positives to take away are two consecutive outings of five innings and a career-high-tying 91 pitches Sunday. Howard's 7.70 FIP suggests that his bloated 6.97 ERA may not be due for improvement unless he can make a significant adjustment, but the right-hander has been better during his current stint in the majors (4.50 ERA, 14 IP) than he was during a three-game April stretch (12.15 ERA, 6.2 IP, 8.1 HR/9), which resulted in a demotion to the minors. Another silver lining is that he is slated to start in a favorable matchup against the Athletics his next time out after the All-Star break.