MLB Player News

Marte is starting in right field and batting seventh in Thursday's game versus the Pirates.

Instead of benching Marte after trading for Ke'Bryan Hayes, the Reds have made Marte their full-time right fielder, starting him at the position six times across their last seven tilts. Marte is slashing only .216/.216/.324 over his last 10 games and will likely need to pick it back up offensively if he wants to continue playing every day, but Cincinnati appears prepared to do what it can to keep the 23-year-old's bat in the lineup.

Parker (7-12) took the loss Thursday against the A's, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out four.

It was another tough outing for Parker, who's struggled to a 7.76 ERA over his last six starts. Overall, the left-hander's ERA is up to 5.43 on the season with a 1.48 WHIP and 81:46 K:BB through 23 starts (122.2 innings). Parker will look to get back on track his next time out, which is tentatively lined up to be a road matchup with the Royals.

Fraley is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.

It's right-hander Paul Skenes on the hill for the Pirates, but the left-handed-hitting Fraley will nonetheless begin the contest on the bench. Fraley looks to have fallen behind Noelvi Marte in the Reds' outfield hierarchy, as Marte is starting in right field Thursday for the sixth time across the last seven games.

Susana (elbow) was activated from the 7-day injured list at Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Susana hasn't pitched for Harrisburg since early May after being diagnosed with a right elbow sprain, but he made three rehab starts with High-A Wilmington and had a 16:2 K:BB over nine innings. The righty has collected a 3.86 ERA and 54:22 K:BB over 35 frames covering nine starts between the two stops this season.

The Cardinals claimed Alcala off waivers from the Red Sox on Thursday.

Alcala has split time between the Twins and Red Sox this season, posting a 6.64 ERA and 46:23 K:BB over 40.2 frames. The 30-year-old reliever cannot be optioned to the minors, so he will go onto to the Cardinals' active roster. St. Louis will have to make a corresponding transaction once Alcala officially reports to the club.

Arenado (shoulder) is tentatively slated to rejoin the Cardinals on Aug. 18 before their series against the Marlins, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Arenado is headed to the team's spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida on Friday to strengthen his injured right shoulder before eventually participating in rehab games with the club's rookie-level Florida Complex League squad. If all goes well on that front, he will then make the short drive from Jupiter to Miami to rejoin the Cardinals for the start of a road trip. Arenado has slashed just .167/.219/.200 over his last 17 games since suffering finger and shoulder injuries.

The Brewers sent Zastryzny (ribs) to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday to begin a rehab assignment.

Zastryzny was pulled off his initial rehab assignment in late July following a setback with his rib stress reaction, but he's been cleared for game action again. The lefty reliever should be ready to rejoin the Brewers bullpen around mid-August if he can avoid another setback.

The Brewers optioned McGee to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.

McGee's most recent stint in the big-league bullpen wasn't fruitful, as he yielded seven runs over four frames covering two appearances. The Brewers will announce a corresponding move prior to Friday's game against the Mets, and it could be Shelby Miller (forearm) returning from the 15-day injured list.

Ferrer (3-3) picked up the win Wednesday over the A's, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

The southpaw got the call to protect a 1-1 tie in the ninth and dispatched the bottom of the A's order on 12 pitches (10 strikes). Ferrer was then rewarded for his efforts when CJ Abrams walked it off with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame. The Nationals haven't had a save situation since Kyle Finnegan was traded to the Tigers, but Ferrer's usage Wednesday suggests he'll be first in line to handle closing duties when needed. Since the beginning of July, Ferrer's posted a 3.48 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 11:2 K:BB over 10.1 innings.

Soto went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Guardians.

Gavin Williams took a no-hitter into the ninth inning for Cleveland, but Soto played spoiler on both the no-no and the shutout by driving a one-out fastball 420 feet to straightaway center field. The 26-year-old superstar is up to 26 homers on the season in 113 contests, but he's been struggling to get going since the All-Star break, slashing .177/.301/.339 through 17 games.