MLB Player News

Spiers is expected to either start or work as the bulk reliever Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The Reds have yet to name Spiers the starter, as Goldsmith notes there's a possibility the club uses an opener for the first inning or two before turning to the 26-year-old right-hander. Spiers worked in a bulk reliever role during his last appearance Wednesday against the Cardinals, surrendering two runs on six hits while fanning four over 2.2 frames.

Ryan (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Monday.

It's already been determined that Ryan will miss the remainder of this season and likely most if not all of 2025 while on the mend from Tommy John surgery, so this move is simply to open up a spot on the 40-man roster following the return of Max Muncy (oblique) from the 60-day IL.

Atlanta activated Lopez (forearm) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

Lopez will rejoin the rotation Tuesday with a start against the Phillies after missing the past three weeks with right forearm inflammation. He threw 71 pitches and covered four innings in one rehab outing, so Lopez could be slightly limited from a workload perspective Tuesday.

The Reds recalled Roa from Triple-A Louisville and placed him on the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder sprain.

Roa hadn't pitched at Triple-A since Aug. 2 and landed on Louisville's 7-day IL before the Reds called him up and placed him on the 60-day IL for the purpose of opening up a spot on the 40-man roster. As a result of the transaction, the 25-year-old's season officially comes to an end. He turned in a 5.55 ERA and 47:30 K:BB over 48.2 innings covering four starts and 19 relief appearances this season with Louisville.

Diaz (finger) was reinstated from Triple-A Reno's 7-day injured list Thursday and struck out six while allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over five innings in his return to the club's rotation.

Diaz was placed on Reno's IL on Aug. 7 with a blister on his right hand but missed just over a week of action before making his return. The 24-year-old righty acquitted himself well in four starts with the big club earlier this season, but he could struggle to get another look with the Diamondbacks in 2024 if all of Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery and Ryne Nelson are all able to stay healthy down the stretch.

The Pirates currently have no plans to shut Skenes down but are considering shortening his starts, Ken Rosenthal, Stephen J. Nesbitt and Zack Meisel of The Athletic report.

Skenes has thrown 125.1 innings this season between the majors and minors, which is just a few innings shy of how many he threw in 2023 between college and the minors. With the Pirates' playoff odds looking remote, it could make sense to tap the brakes a bit on Skenes' workload. When/if the team implements Skenes' innings restrictions and whether it would announce it beforehand isn't clear, creating some potential headaches for fantasy managers. While a full shutdown currently looks unlikely, the report notes that the Pirates have a possible incentive to shut Skenes down, as the pitcher would earn an additional year of service time if he finishes first or second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, resulting in him reaching free agency a year earlier.

Snell did not factor into the decision in Sunday's win over the Athletics, allowing one run on six hits and two walks while striking out 10 over seven innings.

Snell was engaged in a pitcher's duel with JP Sears for much of the game. The first run was eventually scored by the Athletics in the sixth inning and that's all Snell would give up. He did find himself in a bases loaded jam in the seventh with one out but was able to get out of it unharmed. Over his last eight starts, Snell has posted a 1.03 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 70:16 K:BB in 52.1 innings. He leads MLB starting pitchers in ERA and is tied for first in WHIP over that span. Snell also has double-digit strikeouts in four of his last five starts. For the year, the 31-year-old owns a 3.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 101:30 K:BB in 76 innings. He lines up for a home matchup against the Mariners his next time out.

Morton (7-7) got the win Sunday over the Angels, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out seven over 5.1 innings.

Morton retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced but ran into some trouble in the fifth inning. He found himself in a bases loaded jam with nobody out and was able to escape with just one run allowed. Atlanta's pitching combined for 14 strikeouts with Morton responsible for half of those. He now has 15 strikeouts over his last two starts (11.1 innings) after he had just 15 strikeouts over his previous four starts combined (17.1 innings). The 40-year-old now owns a 4.29 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 127:46 K:BB in 126 innings. He lines up to face the Nationals at home in a start over the weekend.

Kelly did not factor into the decision, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings Sunday against the Rays. He struck out four.

Kelly struggled mightily in his second start since returning from a stint on the 60-day IL with a shoulder injury. Despite allowing five runs through five, Kelly was allowed to start the sixth. However, he walked both batters he faced in the inning, and he was pulled with one of those batters later coming around to score, saddling him with six earned runs allowed. On a promising note, Kelly was extended to 96 pitches -- 11 more than he tossed in his previous start -- indicating that he's not being governed by any restrictions. This marked his first outing this season in which he's allowed more than two runs, lifting his ERA from 2.43 to 3.63. His next opportunity to take the hill is scheduled to come next week when the Diamondbacks travel to Boston to take on the Red Sox.

Walker did not factor into the decision in Sunday's loss to the Nationals, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

Walker started strong, throwing three scoreless innings before allowing a two-run blast to Keibert Ruiz in the fourth inning. Walker surrendered another home run in the fifth -- a solo shot to Alex Call. Walker has been mediocre in two starts since returning from a finger injury, pitching to a 6.23 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and an ugly 8:6 K:BB in 8.2 innings. The 32-year-old will look to rebound in his next start, currently scheduled for next weekend in Kansas City.