MLB Player News

Lauer will start Wednesday's contest versus the Diamondbacks, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Lauer has bounced back and forth between being used as a traditional starter and a bulk reliever since getting called up from Triple-A Buffalo in late April. He's fared better in the latter role with a 0.96 ERA in six appearances, but the Blue Jays will give him a start against Arizona. With Bowden Francis (shoulder) out indefinitely, Lauer could get a long run in the Toronto rotation.

The Reds recalled Mey from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

Mey showed the good and the bad during his first big-league stint in May, yielding one run with a 12:3 K:BB over his first 8.1 innings before stumbling in his next 4.2 frames as he allowed five runs with a 2:4 K:BB. The hard-throwing reliever will aim for more consistency this time around.

The Mets recalled Garza from Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old was demoted to Syracuse on Sunday but will quickly rejoin the Mets with Tylor Megill (elbow) landing on the injured list. Garza delivered 3.2 scoreless frames during his prior week-long stint with the big-league club.

The Reds placed Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right groin strain.

Ashcraft has struggled lately, permitting 10 runs over his last 11.1 relief innings. He'll be eligible for activation July 1, but it's unclear whether he'll be ready to go on that date. Luis Mey is taking Ashcraft's spot on the roster and in the bullpen.

Lange (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A West Michigan on Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Lange had right lat surgery last July and had to be shut down back in April because of upper-arm inflammation. However, he has progressed well since the latter injury and is finally ready to test things out in a game setting. Given how long his layoff has been, Lange's rehab assignment figures to last a few weeks.

Nardi (back) was cleared to play catch Monday, MLB.com reports.

Nardi has been slow to recover from low back inflammation, an injury that dates back to spring training and which has kept him on the shelf all season. Though the right-handed reliever won't need to be built up to pitch more than an inning or two, he's still likely weeks away from reaching a point in his throwing program where he's ready to head out on a rehab assignment. He appears to be tracking toward a return from the 60-day injured list at some point in July, though he may not be back until after the All-Star break.

Vest (finger) passed all tests and has been declared ready to pitch, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Vest was pulled from Sunday's appearance versus the Reds due to an injury to his right pinkie finger, but it appears he's already put the issue in the rearview mirror. The right-handed reliever leads the Tigers with 12 saves this season.

Weaver (hamstring) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Tuesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

It's the first time Weaver has faced hitters since he landed on the 15-day injured list two weeks ago. The Yankees offered a 4-to-6 week timetable for Weaver when the IL move was made, but the reliever noted Tuesday that he hasn't felt anything in the hamstring since a day or two after he was hurt, so perhaps he can beat that timeline. The ultimate decision will be the club's.

The Blue Jays recalled Schultz from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

The right-hander was sent to Buffalo on June 8 but will rejoin Toronto on Tuesday with Bowden Francis (shoulder) headed to the injured list. Schultz has a 3.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 24:4 K:BB in 17.2 major-league innings across eight appearances (two starts) this year, and he could be a factor in the Blue Jays' rotation while Francis is out.

The Tigers optioned Owens to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

He's clearing out to make room on the roster for waiver acquisition Carlos Hernandez. Owens had just been recalled Sunday and did not make an appearance during his most recent stint with the big club.