MLB Player News

Varsho is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Angels.

Varsho will get his first day off since he landed with Houston at the trade deadline. He has just six hits in 48 at-bats in his first 13 games for the Astros. Taylor Trammell will shift over to center field, and LaMonte Wade will get the start in left field Wednesday.

Clement is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Rays due to an illness, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Clement picked up three hits in Tuesday's win over the Rays but then woke up Wednesday feeling under the weather. The Blue Jays will give Clement a day off as a result, paving the way for Josh Smith to start at second base. Consider Clement day-to-day.

Springer is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Rays.

Springer is coming off his second three-hit game of the season, but he will begin Wednesday's festivities on the bench. Alejandro Kirk will fill the designated hitter spot for the Blue Jays, and Brandon Valenzuela will grab a start at catcher.

The Astros selected Pecko's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 23-year-old righty will start and make his major-league debut Wednesday against the Angels after recording a 4.94 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 71:28 K:BB across 74.2 innings with Sugar Land this season. Pecko will likely need to perform well Wednesday in order to ensure he receives additional starts with the Astros, as Mike Burrows (elbow) has already completed a rehab start and could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list the next time Pecko's turn in the rotation comes up.

The Astros optioned Ullola to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The righty reliever will head back to Triple-A as the Astros open up room on the active roster for right-hander Ethan Pecko, who was called up from Sugar Land ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Angels. Ullola has surrendered three runs on four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts across six innings with Houston this season.

Ramirez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Ramirez will retreat to the bench after he started each of the previous three games while going 4-for-13 with two doubles, one walk, one stolen base, three runs and two RBI. Joe Mack missed all of those contests while recovering from a shoulder injury, but he'll return to the lineup Wednesday. So long as Mack is healthy, he'll operate as the Marlins' No. 1 catcher, though Ramirez could spell him against left-handed pitching in addition to seeing occasional starts against right-handed pitching as a designated hitter.

Steer will have a follow-up exam on his injured right wrist this weekend, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Recovering from a partial tear of the tendon sheath in his wrist, Steer could be cleared to ramp up baseball activities if he receives good news during his exam. He remains without a clear timeline to return from the 10-day injured list, but more clarity on that front should come after this weekend.

The Astros transferred Matthews (knee) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Ethan Pecko, who was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Angels. Matthews has been on the shelf since July 17 due to a left knee sprain. He had been targeting a return to action for the Astros before the end of the month and had resumed hitting, fielding ground balls and running as of Aug. 8, per MLB.com. However, as a result of his move to the 60-day IL, Matthews won't be eligible for activation until Sept. 12.

The Reds are expected to activate Santillan (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Santillan has retired all nine batters he's faced on his rehab assignment, five of them via strikeout. He's been shelved since late June with an oblique strain, but his return to the Cincinnati bullpen is imminent.

X-rays taken Tuesday showed that Alexander's fractured left hand is fully healed, and he is aiming to rejoin the Orioles' active roster for their series against the Athletics that runs Aug. 28-30, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Alexander will require a rehab assignment first, and that's expected to begin soon. The utility player has been shelved since just before the All-Star break with his hand injury but will be back before the end of this month, if all goes well.