A look at what’s happening around the majors Wednesday: ___ WAITING GAME Now that Fernando Tatis Jr. has been placed on the injured list, the San Diego Padres hope their electrifying shortstop won't be sidelined too long. Tatis should be able to avoid surgery on his left shoulder, the team said a day after he slightly dislocated it taking a hard swing. An MRI on Tuesday showed a slight labral tear and the Padres put the 22-year-old Tatis on the 10-day IL. General manager A.J. Preller said the club wasn’t ruling out anything, including Tatis’ possible return when he’s eligible. According to Preller, doctors said another partially dislocated shoulder could occur again but playing this season wouldn’t put him at long-term risk. “Everybody was very confident that surgery wasn’t the answer at this point in time,” Preller said. “We can keep him on the field here this year and be able to put him in a spot where he can be successful and not be in pain and we’re not doing any kind of long-term damage.”... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have acquired infielder Orlando Arcia from the Milwaukee Brewers for right-handed pitchers Chad Sobotka and Patrick Weigel. Arcia had been the Brewers’ starting shortstop from 2018-20, but was expected to split time between shortstop and third base this year in more of a utility role. This move clears the way for Luis Urías to take over as the Brewers’ everyday shortstop. The Brewers had acquired the 23-year-old Urías along with pitcher Eric Lauer from San Diego in a November 2019 trade that sent outfielder Trent Grisham and pitcher Zach Davies to the Padres. “The trade is a commitment to Luis Urías,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “That is a commitment that we made. He has earned this and it’s an important time for him. He’s going to get a great opportunity here.” Arcia brings infield depth to the Braves. The 26-year-old Arcia has gone 1 for 11 so far this season after hitting .260 with five homers and 20 RBIs in 59 games last year. He has batted... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have acquired infielder Orlando Arcia from the Milwaukee Brewers for right-handed pitchers Chad Sobotka and Patrick Weigel. Arcia had been the Brewers’ starting shortstop from 2018-20, but was expected to split time between shortstop and third base this year in more of a utility role. This move clears the way for Luis Urías to take over as the Brewers’ everyday shortstop. The Brewers had acquired the 23-year-old Urías along with pitcher Eric Lauer from San Diego in a November 2019 trade that sent outfielder Trent Grisham and pitcher Zach Davies to the Padres. Arcia brings infield depth to the Braves. The 26-year-old Arcia has gone 1 for 11 so far this season after hitting .260 with five homers and 20 RBIs in 59 games last year. He has batted .244 with a .293 on-base percentage, 42 homers and 180 RBIs in 542 regular-season games. “He’s kind of an up-and-coming guy,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I was a little surprised he was available. Any time... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The Atlanta Braves decided to place outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list retroactively Saturday because of lingering wrist soreness, and they're hoping he can return next weekend.The 2018 NL Rookie of the Year hasn't played since Monday because of inflammation in his left wrist.Manager Brian Snitker said he didn't consider the lingering soreness a setback for Acuña.“We’re going to make sure we get that thing cleared all the way up,” Snitker said.Reliever Chad Sobotka was activated to take Acuña's roster spot before Saturday night's game at Miami.___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have placed right-hander Mike Soroka on the 45-day injured list following his season-ending torn right Achilles tendon and have designated right-hander Chris Rusin for assignment.Soroka, the team's opening day starter, had to be helped off the field after suffering his injury in Monday night's loss to the New York Mets.General manager Alex Anthopoulos said Soroka, who turned 23 on Tuesday, is expected to have surgery within a week.“He will recover and we expect him to be the same guy he was,” Anthopoulos said.Anthopoulos wouldn't place a timetable on Soroka's recovery period.The Braves made two moves to add depth to their bullpen, recalling right-handers Huascar Ynoa and Chad Sobotka from their alternate training site.Anthopoulos says the team is likely to fill Soroka's rotation spot from within the organization. He says a trade for a starting pitcher would be especially difficult during the coronavirus pandemic, when team are being careful to protect their depth.Rusin allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings on Monday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Nick Markakis is returning to the Atlanta Braves, three weeks after announcing he was opting out of the season due to his concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.Markakis, the veteran outfielder who is in his sixth season with Atlanta, said Wednesday he changed his mind about sitting out after watching his teammates play the first five games.“Sitting at home, watching these guys compete ... and all the risks they’re going through going out there, in the pit of my stomach I felt I wanted to be out there,” Markakis said.He said he realized returning was possible following a phone call from Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos earlier this week.The 36-year-old Markakis earns $24,691 for each game he on the roster or injured list as part of a $4 million, one-year contract. He says he has the full support of his family, including his three children, in his decision to return.“It was nice to be home with the family, but more than anything I know my family wanted me to be out... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Nick Markakis is returning to the Atlanta Braves, three weeks after announcing he was opting out of the season due to his concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.Markakis, the veteran outfielder who is in his sixth season with Atlanta, said Wednesday he changed his mind about sitting out after watching his teammates play the first five games.“Sitting at home, watching these guys compete ... and all the risks they’re going through going out there, in the pit of my stomach I felt I wanted to be out there,” Markakis said.He said he realized returning was possible following a phone call from Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos earlier this week.The 36-year-old Markakis says he has the full support of his family, including his three children, in his decision to return.“It was nice to be home with the family, but more than anything I know my family wanted me to be out there with (the Braves),” he said.Markakis opted out on July 6, when he said he was uneasy about playing the... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Shane Greene has emerged as one of baseball's top closers.Now, he's got a chance to finish games that really matter.Greene was among three relievers acquired by the first-place Atlanta Braves before the trade deadline, and he'll be assuming a high-profile role right away after working in relative anonymity with the woeful Detroit Tigers."I'll be out there in the ninth," Greene said bluntly before Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Reds.With one of baseball's most exciting young teams and holding a comfortable lead in the NL East, the Braves addressed their most pressing need by totally revamping the bullpen at the deadline.Greene will take over for struggling Luke Jackson as Atlanta's closer, Chris Martin assumes the eighth-inning setup role, and one-time closer Mark Melancon can expect to get the nod in the seventh when the Braves are looking to close out games with a 1-2-3 punch."This organization obviously has some issues they wanted to fix," Greene said. "We're here... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Braves reliever Anthony Swarzak has been placed on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, a significant blow to the bullpen for the NL East leaders.The team hopes Swarzak will be ready to return immediately after the All-Star break on July 12.The move was made Sunday, retroactive to Saturday. Right-hander Chad Sobotka was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett before Atlanta's series finale against the Mets.Braves manager Brian Snitker says Swarzak mentioned some discomfort when he came off the mound Friday night after escaping a bases-loaded jam to preserve a one-run lead in the seventh inning of a 6-2 victory over New York.Swarzak has provided a major boost to the Braves since arriving from Seattle in a May 20 trade. He has allowed only one run in 17 1/3 innings and thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings over his last 13 appearances. His success earned him a late-inning role in high-leverage situations.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports