ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Cleveland Guardians activated outfielder Angel Martinez from the 10-day injured list and left-handed reliever Tim Herrin from the 15-day IL on Friday before the start of a series against the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
To make room on the roster, left-hander Will Dion and utility man Daniel Schneemann were optioned to Triple-A Columbus.
Cleveland (54-51) is 1½ games behind the Chicago White Sox for the top spot in the AL Central.
Martinez was slotted in the leadoff spot to open the series against the Rays and went 0-for-4 during an 11-3 loss. He missed 32 games with a fracture in his left foot after fouling a ball off the foot against the Detroit Tigers on June 13. The 24-year-old is hitting .235 with 33 RBIs and is tied for the team lead with 11 home runs.
He appeared in four games on a rehab assignment, playing twice with Double-A Akron and two games with Columbus, combining to go 5-for-12 with a home run and two doubles before joining the Guardians for a pregame workout Thursday.
Herrin was placed on the injured list July 9 with a left elbow contusion when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Minnesota's Royce Lewis a day earlier. Herrin has 28 strikeouts and a 3.24 ERA in 33⅓ innings over 42 relief appearances this season. He made a pair of appearances in a rehab assignment this week.