MLB Player News

Karcher was designated for assignment by the Reds on Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Tony Santillan (back/hamstring) has been activated off the 60-day injured list to fill the vacated 40-man roster spot. Karcher earned a save last month in his major-league debut, but he was sent back to Triple-A Louisville soon after and has struggled to a 7.18 ERA over 31.1 innings of relief this summer in the International League.

Kennedy was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Kennedy made a spot start for the Reds on Tuesday versus the Nationals and surrendered four earned runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He'll return to a rotation role at Louisville.

Santillan (back/hamstring) was activated from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Finally recovered from lingering back and hamstring injuries, Santillan will be available out of the Reds' bullpen -- for the first time this season -- Thursday afternoon against the Nationals. The 26-year-old right-hander holds a career 3.71 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 63 major-league innings.

Burdi (appendicitis) has advanced to long tossing, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Burdi is currently stationed at the Cubs' spring training complex in Arizona as he works back into form following an emergency appendectomy in late May. He's not eligible to be activated from the 60-day injured list until July 23.

Hoeing did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks over three innings against St. Louis. He struck out three.

Hoeing managed to get through the first inning unscathed despite allowing a double and two walks on 27 pitches. However, the Cardinals would get to him for five runs in the third, as the right-hander failed to retire five of the first six batters he faced, and he eventually surrendered a two-run blast to Nolan Gorman to top things off. Hoeing has now allowed five or more runs in back-to-back starts, giving up four homers over that stretch.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday's win over the Pirates that Graterol has been unavailable the last couple days due to an arm issue, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The specifics of the injury aren't available at this time. The team will check on Graterol on Thursday to see if he can be available. If he can't, he could be placed on the injured list. Graterol has notched four saves for the Dodgers this season as one of their primary late-inning relief weapons.

Chafin (2-2) was charged with a blown save and the loss Wednesday. The left-hander allowed two runs on three hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning against the Mets.

Chafin got the first two outs and nearly had the third, but catcher Carson Kelly couldn't hang on to Francisco Alvarez's foul tip. Given a second life, Alvarez drilled a game-tying home run to right-center field, and Chafin blew his third save in 11 chances. Two batters later, the Diamondbacks were down a run. Chafin had been the primary closer to the start the season, but he hadn't been used in a close-out situation since May 29, as Scott McGough emerged in that role. This was the third time in the last week the bullpen failed the Diamondbacks late in a game.

Hader earned a save against the Angels on Wednesday, walking one batter and striking out one batter over a scoreless inning.

Hader got the call in the ninth inning and saw the tying run come to the plate following a one-out walk. However, he retired the final two hitters he faced to nail down his second save in as many days. Hader has recorded 11 consecutive scoreless outings, during which he's allowed just five hits over 10 frames. He's been a little wild with nine walks during that span but has also registered 16 punchouts and collected seven saves.

Williams (4-2) was charged with the loss and a blown save against the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and no walks while striking out one batter over one inning.

Williams was called upon in the ninth frame to protect a two-run Milwaukee lead, but he was unable to come through for just the second time this season. The right-hander gave up a two-out, two run double that tied the game, then saw the eventual winning run cross the plate on an error by third baseman Brian Anderson. The outing snapped a nine-contest, nine-inning scoreless streak for Williams, during which he had racked up eight saves. Despite Wednesday's outcome, Williams ranks among the league's top closers with a 1.99 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 41:17 K:BB and 18 saves over 31.2 innings.

Hudson allowed a hit and two walks while striking out two over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Pirates.

Evan Phillips had pitched three straight days, so the save chance went to Hudson, who nearly made a mess of it. He loaded the bases with no outs, only to retire Henry Davis, Carlos Santana and Jack Suwinski in order to end the threat. Hudson has covered three innings and posted a 5:3 K:BB without allowing a run since returning from a torn ACL. The right-hander figures to be part of the Dodgers' high-leverage mix in the second half of the season.