MLB Player News

Reds manager Terry Francona said that Encarnacion-Strand (back) hit off a tee Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

It's the next step in the progression for Encarnacion-Strand, who was given an epidural last week as he works his way back from low-back inflammation. The infielder has several items he still needs to check off the list before a timetable for his return becomes clearer.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday that it was a groin injury that forced Miley (elbow) from his rehab start Sunday at High-A Dayton, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Francona added that Miley could be back on the mound this week, so it seems the setback is a minor one. Miley is on a minor-league contract with Cincinnati as he works his way back from a hybrid UCL repair on his left elbow.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday that Stephenson (oblique) will be re-evaluated at the end of this week, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

That typically means a player will be activated at that time as long as long as they're performing and feeling well in their rehab games. Stephenson has been out all season with a strained left oblique and is 3-for-17 with one home run in his first five rehab contests with Triple-A Louisville. He caught a full nine innings Sunday, which is the first time he's done so since joining Louisville.

The Cardinals designated Loutos for assignment Monday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder/outfielder Jose Barrero, who was called up from Triple-A Memphis. Loutos made three scoreless appearances for the Cardinals last season and has allowed three runs with a 6:2 K:BB over eight innings with Memphis in 2025. The 26-year-old could draw some interest via trade or waivers from a team seeking relief depth.

The Cardinals optioned Saggese to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

Saggese has slashed .341/.364/.512 in 14 games this season at the major-league level, but his playing time has dipped since Masyn Winn returned from the injured list last week. Jose Barrero is grabbing Saggese's roster spot while the latter returns to Memphis where he can play every day.

The Cardinals selected Barrero's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

He'll join the 26-man active roster as a replacement for Thomas Saggese, who was optioned to Memphis. After he was unable to win a spot on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster as a utility player, Barrero earned his promotion to the big leagues by slashing .299/.396/.517 with four home runs and four stolen bases over 23 games at Triple-A. The right-handed hitting Barrero has seen most of his professional action in the infield but could end up serving as a short-side platoon mate for Victor Scott in center field.

Torrens is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.

Now on the bench for the fourth time in five games, Torrens is expected to see light playing time moving forward after top backstop Francisco Alvarez returned from the 10-day injured list last week to make his season debut. Torrens proved to be an adequate replacement for Alvarez behind the dish, as he enters Monday's contest with a .258/.292/.419 slash line over his 65 plate appearances on the season.

Ritchie has posted a 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB through 21 innings over four starts for High-A Rome.

The 21-year-old right-hander is looking to stay healthy this year after making a late-season return from Tommy John surgery in 2024. Ritchie's strikeout rate is down in the early going -- he fanned 48 over 42.1 innings between Single-A and High-A last year -- but he built up to 6.2 innings in his most recent outing April 22, allowing two runs on three hits with a 5:0 K:BB. Atlanta won't rush Ritchie up the ladder, but a promotion to Double-A in the second half wouldn't be surprising if he continues to have success in the South Atlantic League.

Caminiti (forearm) is throwing in extended spring training, and Atlanta hasn't announced a timeline for him to be assigned to a full-season affiliate, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The 18-year-old southpaw, selected 24th overall in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, reported some forearm soreness in March and has been brought along slowly as a result. Caminiti is likely to be sent to Single-A Augusta once he's cleared to officially begin his campaign.

Acuna is starting at second base and batting ninth in Monday's game versus the Nationals, Andrew Tredinnick of NorthJersey.com reports.

Acuna has now been in the lineup three times in four games since Jeff McNeil returned from the injured list, as McNeil has started in center field twice during that span and was on the bench the one time the Mets faced a lefty. If McNeil proves to be a viable option on a regular basis in center field, Acuna could find himself in the lineup often at the keystone.