Baseball notes: Henderson Alvarez back in Marlins’ rotation

Miami Marlins opening day starter Henderson Alvarez will rejoin the rotation Sunday when he starts against the Atlanta Braves.

The right-hander has been sidelined since April 12 with right shoulder and elbow inflammation. Right-hander Tom Koehler, who had been scheduled to start Sunday, will move to the bullpen, Manager Mike Redmond said.

Alvarez is 0-2 with a 4.50 earned-run average in two starts this season.

Etc.

The Kansas City Royals called up veteran right-hander Joe Blanton from triple-A Omaha and optioned reliever Aaron Brooks to the same club. Blanton last pitched in the majors in 2016, going 2-14 with a 6.04 ERA with the Angels. ... Pitcher Bruce Chen has been cut by the Cleveland Indians after going 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA in two starts. Cleveland designated the 37-year-old left-hander for assignment and recalled right-hander Austin Adams. ... The San Francisco Giants activated right fielder Hunter Pence off the disabled list, giving the defending World Series champions a big boost to their struggling offense. Pence was hit by a pitch during spring training and broke the left forearm just above the wrist. ... Left-handed reliever Sean Marshall will have more shoulder surgery next week, ending his chances of making a comeback in the final year of his contract with the Cincinnati Reds. The 32-year-old pitcher also had shoulder surgery last year, when he made only 15 appearances with a 7.71 ERA. ... For the first time in nearly a half-century, the New York Mets slotted their top home-run hitter ninth in the batting order. Wilmer Flores, whose five homers top the power-starved team, was in the No. 9 hole Saturday against Milwaukee, behind pitcher Jacob de Grom. New York Manager Terry Collins hit his starting pitcher eighth for the third time this season. ... Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton has joined double-A Frisco on the next step in his path back to the major leagues.