MLB Player News

The Astros activated Diaz (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Diaz has been sidelined since early May while dealing with a left oblique strain, but he's been cleared to return to the active roster after playing three rehab games with Triple-A Sugar Land. The 27-year-old slashed just .235/.255/.347 with two home runs across 106 plate appearances before getting hurt. Diaz should operate as the Astros' primary catcher moving forward, but Christian Vazquez will also be in the mix.

Brown (shoulder) has been reinstated from the 60-day IL on Tuesday.

After completing four rehab assignments and building up to 78 pitches in one start, Brown is back with the big-league club for the first time since being placed on the injured list April 5. Prior to that, the 27-year-old had made just two starts, during which he racked up 17 strikeouts. Houston will get a much-needed addition and boost to its starting rotation, which has been marred by injuries all season long. Collin Price was optioned to Triple-A in order to make room for Brown on the active roster. Brown will be Tuesday's starter against Detroit.

Gimenez (wrist) will return to the starting lineup for Tuesday's series opener against Boston.

After being scratched for the series finale against the Yankees on Sunday, Gimenez is back at shortstop, batting eighth in Tuesday's lineup. The 27-year-old has slashed just .222/.269/.351 in 243 plate appearances this season. Ernie Clement will slide back over to second base after replacing Gimenez at shortstop on Sunday.

Culpepper was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday with a left hip strain, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.

Culpepper had seemed close to getting a promotion to the big leagues, but that will have to wait now that he's been shelved. The 23-year-old has put up a .273/.377/.498 batting line with 14 home runs and 15 steals over 61 games with St. Paul this season.

Guerrero (back) is in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.

After missing the final two games of the most recent series against the Yankees with back tightness, Guerrero is back at first base and batting third in the order. The 27-year-old slugger has struggled with hitting the long ball, as he has yet to hit one over the fence since May 17. Guerrero has slashed .280/.372/.366 in 288 plate appearances on the campaign.

Wells (head) has been sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin a rehab assignment.

Wells is ready to participate in games again after going on the 10-day injured list earlier this month with cervical headaches. He's eligible for activation now and hasn't missed much time, so Wells' rehab assignment should be brief.

Baltimore optioned Nunez to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.

Nunez was last in action on Sunday, when he pitched one scoreless inning against San Diego. On the campaign, the right-hander has posted a 4.98 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 38:14 K:BB through 34.1 innings. The 24-year-old will head down to Norfolk to make room for Ryan Helsley on the active roster.

The Orioles activated Helsley (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Helsley wound up being sidelined for seven weeks with right elbow inflammation. He struck out five of seven batters faced over two scoreless rehab innings with Triple-A Norfolk and should slide right back into the closer role in Baltimore. Helsley posted a 2.53 ERA and 15:7 K:BB over 10.2 frames while notching seven saves before he got injured.

Sloan is not part of the Mariners' "immediate plans," Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Sloan's 4.44 ERA at Double-A Arkansas is a tad bloated thanks to a couple clunkers, but he boasts a 58:12 K:BB over 46.2 innings in his 11 starts. The 20-year-old right-hander is in the Mariners' plans for later this summer, per Jude, but Seattle already has six viable starting pitchers at the major-league level, and fellow prospect Kade Anderson could also be ahead of Sloan in the pecking order.

Anderson is not part of the Mariners' "immediate plans," Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Anderson's first 11 starts in pro ball couldn't have gone much better, as he's collected a microscopic 1.13 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 82:7 K:BB over 55.2 innings with Double-A Arkansas. However, while the Mariners do expect Anderson to contribute in the majors at some point this season, a big-league debut for the top prospect is not imminent. Seattle already has six capable starting pitchers at the major-league level, complicating the timeline for Anderson's debut, but there could come a point when the southpaw forces the issue.