MLB Player News

The Red Sox selected Fitts' contract from Triple-A Worcester, and he's scheduled to start Sunday against the White Sox, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old was acquired from the Yankees in the Alex Verdugo trade over the winter and is now making his MLB debut. Fitts has a 4.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 111:37 K:BB across 116.2 innings this season, and he couldn't ask for a softer introduction to the big leagues while going up against the 32-111 White Sox.

The Red Sox optioned Shugart to Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Shugart was recalled by the Red Sox on Sept. 1, and in his last outing Saturday against the White Sox, he gave up a three-run home run to Andrew Benintendi in the top of the seventh inning. In Triple-A this season, Shugart has a 4.55 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 65.1 innings. The move makes room for right-hander Richard Fitts, who will start Sunday in his major-league debut against the White Sox.

The Red Sox designated Dalbec for assignment Sunday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Dalbec has been with Triple-A Worcester since June 22. Since then, he has slashed .260/.345/.475 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI and a 36.9 percent strikeout rate across 249 plate appearances with Worcester. Dalbec has hit 47 home runs for the Red Sox over the past four seasons, and if he elects to move on from the organization, he should get interest from teams looking for a lefty-hitting first baseman.

The Rays recalled Alexander from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

The left-hander was optioned to Durham on Thursday but will quickly return to the big leagues with Jeffrey Springs (elbow) headed to the injured list. Alexander has a 5.66 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 19 appearances (seven starts) for the Rays this season, and he could work as a starter or bulk reliever down the stretch in place of Springs.

The Rays placed Springs on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to left elbow fatigue.

The left-hander lined up to take the mound early this week in Philadelphia, but he'll instead head to the IL due to the elbow issue. Springs will be eligible to return from the injured list in late September, potentially in time for a couple starts, but there's a real chance he won't return with the Rays six games back of the final wild-card spot. If he is done for the season, the 31-year-old will close the campaign with a 3.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB across 33 innings (seven starts).

Devers went 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and a run scored in Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox.

Devers, who hit out of the second spot in the order behind Jarren Duran for a third consecutive game, doubled and scored a run as part of Boston's four-run first inning. That was a response to the White Sox taking a 2-0 lead in the top half of the frame. "We hit the ball hard," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic following the game. "The two lefties (Duran and Devers), we're going to run with that from now on, it doesn't matter, I just feel comfortable with them." Devers had slumped (1-for-24) since a three-game absence due to discomfort in his shoulders, but he's gone 3-for-6 with two walks over the last two games after going hitless out of the two-hole Thursday.

Judge went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base in Saturday's 2-0 win against the Cubs.

That's 11 straight contests without a long ball for Judge, who slugged seven homers in six games prior to the sudden power outage. The 11-game homerless stretch is the longest of the campaign for the star outfielder and has stalled his pursuit of a second career 60-homer season, though his ability to get hot and tally long balls in bunches puts the accomplishment still within reach. Judge has struggled as a whole during the power drought, slashing .175/.327/.250 with a 34.7 percent strikeout rate, though he does have three doubles, three RBI and two stolen bases.

Horwitz went 4-for-5 with a double, two homers, three RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's win over Atlanta.

Horwitz was a problem for Atlanta all night, smacking a leadoff homer in the second to put Toronto on the board, along with a second leadoff shot in the fourth to kick off a three-run inning for the Blue Jays. The infielder didn't stop there, however, adding an RBI double and a single in the contest to give him his first four-hit performance of the campaign. Horwitz has now tallied multiple hits in three of his last six starts, batting .423 (11-for-26) with three homers, six RBI and six runs scored over that stretch. He's also hit safely in each of his last three starts.

Rafaela started in center field and went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox.

The return of shortstop Trevor Story was initially expected to move Rafaela to second base, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora put him in the outfield. Rafaela is fighting it right now and is 5-for-40 (.125) over his last 12 games.

Scherzer (shoulder) allowed one walk, hit a batter and struck out eight over four scoreless innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Scherzer mowed down the opposition with three perfect innings before the walk and hit-by-pitch in the fourth frame. The right-hander believes the nerve issue that impacted his shoulder has been remedied, per MLB.com. If he responds well to his next throwing session following Saturday's rehab start, Scherzer could return from the 15-day injured list to rejoin the Rangers on their road trip this upcoming week.