MLB Player News

Sandoval was optioned to the Angels' alternate training site Wednesday.

This move comes after Sandoval fired four innings during Tuesday's game against the Mariners, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out four. He'll likely remain stretched out at the team's satellite camp until a starter or long reliever is needed. Luke Bard was summoned to the big club in a corresponding move.

Montas (0-1) took the loss Wednesday versus the Rockies after giving up two runs on five hits and two walks across five innings. He recorded three strikeouts.

The 27-year-old was fortunate to allow only the two runs, as he labored through the early innings and gave up a bases-loaded single off the outfield wall that managed to score only one run. Montas finished at 77 pitches after throwing 81 pitches during his first outing, though he did throw an additional inning Wednesday. The right-hander will carry a 3.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB through nine innings into Tuesday's start against the Rangers.

Montgomery will start Friday against the Red Sox, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

He had been scheduled to start Wednesday against the Phillies, but things got shuffled around as a result of the Marlins' COVID-19 outbreak. Montgomery is a southpaw who can sit in the mid-90s with his fastball and has demonstrated decent control (8.0 percent walk rate) across 186.2 MLB innings.

Paxton's next start has been pushed to Sunday against the Red Sox, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

He last started July 25, giving up three runs in one inning while sitting around 92 mph with his fastball -- three mph slower than his typical velocity. With the Yankees purposely giving him a full week between his first and second start, there should be some cause for concern with regard to the health of his arm.

Luzardo could start one of Oakland's three games this weekend in Seattle but could also make one more relief appearance, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Luzardo was expected to start for the Athletics this season before a positive COVID-19 test delayed his preseason buildup and forced him to the bullpen to start the year. He threw three scoreless innings out of the pen in his season debut Saturday and will evidently be in the rotation before long. However, whether or not he'll start over the weekend won't become clear until after Wednesday's game against the Rockies, as he could be needed in relief during the contest.

Luzardo is likely to pitch Wednesday in some capacity, most likely in relief, Susan Slusser and Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle report.

Prior to Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Rockies, manager Bob Melvin alluded to the possibility of Luzardo even taking the hill as a starter for Wednesday's matinee versus Colorado, which would have given scheduled starter Frankie Montas an extra day of rest. However, the Athletics skipper had couched that remark by noting "we'll see how the bullpen goes today and what we have available tomorrow." The A's ultimately called on the trio of Jordan Weems, Lou Trivino and J.B. Wendelken for five innings and 77 total pitches after Daniel Mengden completed four frames, and the rest of the bullpen was essentially deemed unavailable because of heavy use in the first four games of the season. Therefore, it's likely Luzardo offers the greatest value as a reliever Wednesday, as he last pitched Saturday and therefore brings a fresh arm.

The Orioles added Rodriguez to their 60-man roster pool Wednesday, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.

Rodriguez's inclusion in the pool is likely just a measure for Baltimore to more closely monitor the development of its top pitching prospect following the cancellation of the 2020 minor-league baseball season. The 20-year-old right-hander made his full-season debut in 2020 and overwhelmed the South Atlantic League competition, posting a league-leading 24.7 K-BB% to go with a 2.68 ERA in 94 innings. He'll report to Baltimore's alternate training site in Bowie.

Manager Dusty Baker confirmed that Javier would start Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Prior to Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers, Baker stopped short of locking Javier in to start the series finale, but the rookie will now get the ball Wednesday after he wasn't needed out of the bullpen a day earlier. Javier will face the unenviable task of filling in for ace Justin Verlander (forearm) in what will mark the 23-year-old's first MLB start. Javier split time between the High-A, Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2019, posting a sparkling 1.74 ERA and 0.97 WHIP to go with a 170:59 K:BB in 113.2 innings. Though he had been stretched out to start in summer camp, expect Javier to be capped at around five innings Wednesday.

Lyles allowed one walk and struck out two over two scoreless innings in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to Arizona.

Lyles, who is the Rangers' No. 5 starter, is not part of the first rotation due to off days during the first weeks of the season. To keep him fresh for an expected starting assignment, manager Chris Woodward was able to afford him multiple innings Tuesday. Lyles is expected to start Saturday on the road against the Giants.

Sandoval was charged with two runs (one earned) on four hits over four innings in a no-decision against the Mariners on Tuesday. He struck out four and issued one walk.

The lefty was listed as the Angels' sixth starter to begin the year, but he ended up starting the team's fifth game after Matt Andriese was needed for extensive work behind Shohei Ohtani on Sunday. Sandoval held up his end of the bargain, but he was limited to just 62 pitches and did not make it deep enough into the game to qualify for the win. It's uncertain whether Sandoval will continue to start once Julio Teheran is ready to return from the COVID-19 IL.