MLB Player News

The Astros optioned Martinez to their taxi squad Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Martinez allowed five runs in an inning of work Friday after holding opponents scoreless in his first two big-league appearances. He's unlikely to rejoin Houston this season, barring other injuries on the big-league roster.

The Athletics activated Moll from the paternity list Sunday.

The lefty rejoins Oakland's bullpen after being on paternity leave since Thursday. He figures to pitch in low-leverage situations during the last week of the regular season.

Hicks (elbow) will continue his rehab work in the Arizona Fall League at the end of the regular season and won't join the Cardinals for any potential postseason action, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Hicks began a rehab stint with Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, but the Cardinals don't plan to rush him back from the four-plus month absence for a potential playoff run. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since the start of May with right elbow inflammation and should be ready for spring training, assuming he avoids any setbacks while pitching in the fall league.

Sanmartin will be called up from Triple-A Louisville to start Monday against the Pirates, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Sanmartin was acquired along with Sonny Gray from the Mariners back in 2019, and he's slated to make his big-league debut Monday. The 25-year-old has spent most of this season at Triple-A and posted a 3.94 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 89:23 K:BB over 82.1 innings. He's filling the rotation spot of Wade Miley (neck) and could make another start next weekend if Miley is unable to return from the injured list.

Morgan (4-7) allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out six over six shutout innings to earn the win Saturday versus the White Sox.

The right-hander has submitted consecutive quality starts for the second time this season. Morgan has settled down to a 3.96 ERA since the start of August, although a rough start to his big-league career still has his season ERA at 5.27. He's added a 1.25 WHIP and 79:22 K:BB across 83.2 innings overall. Morgan's projected for one more turn through the rotation next weekend versus Texas, which could give him some streaming appeal for fantasy managers.

The White Sox recalled Foster from Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday.

The righty was optioned to the minors Thursday after allowing two runs in 1.1 innings of relief. In fact, Foster has allowed seven earned runs in his last 4.2 innings dating back to Aug. 15, so he shouldn't see much, if any high-leverage work during this latest stint on the big-league roster.

Bednar (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday.

Bednar landed the shelf with a strained right oblique Sept. 14, and he'll rejoin the active roster after a brief stint on the IL. The 26-year-old should take over as Pittsburgh's top closer, though Chris Stratton likely will still be in the mix for those opportunities depending on the situation.

Pressly (5-3) took the loss Saturday as the Astros were downed 2-1 by the A's, giving up a run on two hits in one-third of an inning. He struck out one.

Entering the game in the bottom of the ninth, Pressly gave up a leadoff single to Elvis Andrus before Starling Marte laced a walkoff double. Houston's closer is stumbling to the finish line this season, allowing runs in three of nine September appearances for a 5.63 ERA, but his 12:2 K:BB through eight innings on the month suggests there's little cause for concern.

Tapia (4-1) gave up three runs on four hits in one-third of an inning, taking the loss Saturday versus Detroit.

The right-hander has had few missteps this year, but he endured a big one during an ugly sixth inning Saturday. Tapia allowed consecutive singles before Miguel Cabrera and Jeimer Candelario combined to plate three runs on back-to-back doubles. That was enough to give Tapia his first big-league loss while ballooning his ERA to 2.61 with a 1.19 WHIP and 25:13 K:BB across 31 innings this season. He's now given up runs in each of his last two outings, but he was on a 13-inning scoreless streak prior to this series versus the Tigers.

Chavez will start Sunday's game against the Padres, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Chavez will once again serve as an opener with Atlanta employing a bullpen game for the series finale in San Diego. The veteran right-hander has a 2.37 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB over 30.1 innings this season, and he's unlikely to pitch much more than an inning Sunday.