MLB Player News

May will work in relief behind opening pitcher Brennan Bernardino for Wednesday's game against the Guardians, though manager Alex Cora said that the right-handed May will be available for up to 40 pitches, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Since May will be pitching on three days' rest after most recently starting in last Saturday's 10-3 loss to the Pirates, he'll face a tighter restriction than if he were operating as bulk reliever on normal rest. Cora noted that the Red Sox aren't yet preparing for May to move to the bullpen on a permanent basis, as the 27-year-old is still likely to make a start during next week's series versus the Athletics. Since being acquired from the Dodgers at the trade deadline, May has produced a 5.68 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB in 25.1 innings through his first five outings with the Red Sox.

Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy said Wednesday that Harrison is tending to an ankle injury, and the southpaw is without a clear timeline to resume pitching, Katie Morrison-O'Day of MassLive.com reports.

The southpaw had recently joined the Red Sox in Boston and appeared to be in consideration for a start Wednesday against the Guardians, but the big club will ultimately have lefty Brennan Bernardino serve as an opener in front of bulk reliever Dustin May in that contest. Harrison's ankle injury may have played a part in him being bypassed for the start with Boston, and it's yet to be determined whether the issue will result in him landing on Worcester's injured list.

Taillon (groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

It should be the only rehab start Taillon requires before he rejoins the Cubs' rotation next week in Atlanta. The veteran right-hander has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a left groin strain. When Taillon does return, he'll likely push Javier Assad to a long-relief role.

The Rays promoted Urbina from Single-A Charleston to High-A Bowling Green on Wednesday.

Urbina needed a couple years in pro ball to harness his stuff, but he's broken out this season as a 19-year-old at the Single-A level. He logged a 2.05 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 96:30 K:BB in a career-high 92.1 innings across 19 starts.

Sasaki (shoulder) struck out two batters and allowed four earned runs on three hits and two walks in his rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He also hit a batter.

Though the 69 pitches (42 strikes) that Sasaki threw marked a slight step back from the 75 pitches he tossed his last time out Aug. 26, he was more efficient, which enabled him to reach five innings for the first time in four rehab outings. The right-hander wasn't quite as sharp as the Dodgers had likely hoped, however; two of the three hits he gave up left the yard, and he now owns an unremarkable 8:8 K:BB over 14 innings on the farm. The Dodgers are letting Sasaki get stretched out as a starter, but the big club wouldn't appear to have an opening for him in its six-man rotation. If Sasaki bypasses another rehab start and gets activated from the 60-day injured list, he could be deployed out of the bullpen.

Sheehan will start Wednesday's game in Pittsburgh, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Shohei Ohtani had initially been listed as the Dodgers' starter, but Ohtani will instead serve only as the team's designated hitter Wednesday. Manager Dave Roberts had said previously that Sheehan's turn in the rotation would be skipped, but the plan evidently changed. Roberts should offer more clarity behind the decision later Wednesday.

The Red Sox are not planning to recall Harrison from Triple-A Worcester prior to Wednesday's game versus the Guardians, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports.

Previous reports indicated that Harrison was headed to Boston and could start Wednesday's contest. However, the club has since announced that Brennan Bernardino will open the contest, with Dustin May slated for bulk relief. Harrison could still get an opportunity with the Red Sox at some point this month, but he'll remain with Worcester for now. The lefty has posted a 3.65 ERA and 48:26 K:BB over 49.1 innings covering 11 starts with Worcester after being dealt to Boston in the Rafael Devers trade.

Martinez retired the lone batter he faced in relief and collected his second hold of the season in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Cardinals.

Martinez had made four straight appearances as a starter from Aug. 9 through Aug. 26, but his last two outings have come out of the bullpen. Though the Reds scratched Nick Lodolo (illness) ahead of Tuesday's 12-9 loss to the Blue Jays, Martinez wasn't called upon for a spot start, as Cincinnati instead had Scott Barlow open the contest before he was followed by five other relievers. Cincinnati could consider moving Martinez back into the rotation if Lodolo ends up requiring a stint on the injured list, though the expectation at this time is that Lodolo will be ready to go the next time the Reds need a fifth starter.

Alexander is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Yankees in Houston, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

When he was initially called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on July 24, Alexander looked to be a temporary placeholder in the rotation until the Astros returned multiple rehabbing starting pitchers from the injured list. Much to the delight of the Astros, Alexander has pitched well enough to maintain his spot in the rotation, even though Spencer Arrighetti, Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia have since made their way back from the shelf. Houston has opted to move the struggling Lance McCullers to the bullpen to keep Alexander in the fold as a starter, and the journeyman right-hander should continue making regular turns through the six-man rotation throughout September so long as his performance warrants the opportunity. Since his call-up from Sugar Land, Alexander has produced a 3.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB in 39.2 innings across seven starts.

Tong appears in line to make his next start Saturday against the Reds in Cincinnati, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The Mets had initially confirmed that Tong would take the hill for the series opener Friday, but David Peterson will instead start that contest while the rookie right-hander gets pushed back a day. Tong will be starting on seven days' rest coming off a promising MLB debut versus the Marlins this past Friday, when he struck out six and allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits and no walks over five innings en route to picking up a win.