Braves: The Braves signed infielder Gio Urshela on Tuesday after placing third baseman Austin Riley on the injured list with a broken hand. The 32-year-old Urshela batted .243 with five homers and 37 RBIs for the Tigers before he was released on Sunday. The Braves quickly scooped him up, deciding he was the best available option with Riley expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season after being struck in the right hand by a pitch. The timetable for his recovery is six to eight weeks. The Braves are Urshela’s seventh team over a nine-year career. He spent most of this season at third base, though he’s also played the remaining infield positions during his time in the big leagues. Urshela’s best season came in 2019, when he batted .314 with 21 homers and 74 RBIs for the Yankees. He has two other seasons with double-figure homers, and the Braves are hoping he can add a bit of punch to a lineup that has been decimated by injuries. NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. is done for the season with a knee injury, second baseman Ozzie Albies is recovering from a fractured wrist, and now Riley is possibly done for the year unless the Braves make an extended run in the playoffs. The Braves also lost ace pitcher Spencer Strider to a season-ending injury, and reliever A.J. Minter appears done as well because of a hip issue. The left-hander was transferred to the 60-day injured list to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Urshela.
Orioles: RHP Zach Eflin was placed on the 15-day IL. He was scheduled to start Wednesday’s series finale against the Mets. But manager Brandon Hyde said Eflin felt some shoulder soreness after he pitched six effective innings in a 5-1 victory over the Red Sox on Thursday night. The 30-year-old Eflin is 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA in four starts since he was acquired in a July 26 trade with the Rays.
Cardinals: The Cardinals released veteran SS Brandon Crawford and reinstated INF Matt Carpenter from the IL. Crawford, 37, a four-time Gold Glove winner and three-time All-Star in 13 seasons with the Giants, hit .169 with a HR and four RBIs in 80 plate appearances for the Cardinals this season. He last played on Aug. 10.
Reds: DH/INF Jeimer Candelario on the 10-day IL with a fractured left big toe. Candelario, 30, was hit in the foot by a pitch in Sunday’s game against the Royals but played in Monday night’s win against the Blue Jays. He’s batting .225 with 20 HRs, 23 doubles and 56 RBIs in 112 games in his first season with the Reds. The Reds added INF Amed Rosario to the 26-man roster in a corresponding move. Rosario, 28, was signed off waivers from the Dodgers on Sunday. He’s batting a combined .305 with two HRs, 28 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 81 games this season with the Rays and Dodgers.
Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered to help Eduardo Rodriguez and the Diamondbacks beat the host Marlins 3-1. The defending NL champion Diamondbacks, who finished with only four hits in the win, improved to an MLB-best 30-13 since July 1.