MLB Player News

The Marlins activated Acosta (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Jacksonville.

A left oblique strain delayed Acosta's start to the season. He's now recovered and has played three rehab games, but the Marlins have elected to keep him at Jacksonville where he can play every day.

The Nationals recalled Fernandez from Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

He'll be taking the spot in the bullpen previously occupied by lefty Andrew Alvarez, who was optioned to Rochester after tossing 4.1 innings of long relief in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Giants. Fernandez, 30, had posted a 4.70 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 7.2 innings with the Triple-A club this season and is likely to be ticketed for low-leverage work while he's up with Washington.

Church is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest in Miami.

Church had started each of the last four games, but he will begin Monday's series opener on the bench. The Cardinals will go with Thomas Saggese in left field and in the No. 8 spot in the batting order.

Lambert is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Guardians in Cleveland, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Summoned from Triple-A Sugar Land last week after submitting a 1.84 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over his first three starts in the minors, Lambert stepped in to fill one of the opening in Houston's injury plagued rotation. Though he was dealt a loss Friday against the Cardinals after yielding four runs and allowing 10 baserunners in five innings, Lambert posted a strong 8:1 K:BB and racked up 23 swinging strikes on 90 pitches. That massive whiff total alone makes Lambert a worthwhile speculative pickup in deeper leagues, and another quality showing against the Guardians could allow the 29-year-old righty to solidify a more permanent spot in a rotation that isn't expected to get any of its injured starters back anytime soon.

The Rays transferred Grove (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

The transaction frees up a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Trevor Martin, who was called up from Triple-A Durham. Grove was signed last week as he continues his recovery from right shoulder surgery, and it's unclear when he might be ready to pitch in a game.

The Rays selected Martin's contract from Triple-A Durham on Monday.

He'll be absorbing the roster spot vacated by Mason Englert (forearm), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. Martin earned his first-ever big-league promotion after allowing just two unearned runs with an 11:6 K:BB in his first 9.1 innings with Durham.

The Astros placed Allen (back) on the 10-day injured list Monday.

Allen had been scheduled to start at shortstop in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Cardinals before being scratched from the lineup shortly before first pitch when he developed back spasms. The 27-year-old apparently didn't show meaningful improvement after resting up over the last couple of days, so Houston will keep him on the shelf for at least its entire seven-game week to give him extra time off to recover. The Astros called up Braden Shewmake from Triple-A Sugar Land to replace Allen as a utility infielder.

The Rays placed Englert on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right forearm tightness.

Englert had appeared in each of the Rays' last two games and was charged with one run over 2.1 frames in Sunday's loss to the Pirates. Though it's unclear whether Englert still needs to undergo imaging, manager Kevin Cash told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that the right-hander's forearm injury isn't viewed as a long-term concern.

The Astros outrighted France to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

After the Astros designated him for assignment for the second time in just over two months this past weekend, France will once again end up sticking around in the Houston organization upon going unclaimed off waivers. He'll likely slot back into the rotation at Sugar Land, which lost three of its starters (Spencer Arrighetti, Colton Gordon and Peter Lambert) last week when the big club was in need of further reinforcement.

Varsho (knee) said Sunday that he will "probably" be back in the lineup Monday against the Angels, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Varsho exited Friday's game versus the Diamondbacks and didn't play Saturday or Sunday because of left knee discomfort. However, he was feeling significantly better by Sunday and is on track to return to action for Monday's series opener. Varsho is sporting a .262/.333/.462 batting line with three home runs and one stolen base in his first 19 contests this season.