MLB Player News

Stephenson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.

Stephenson will take a seat for the day game after he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout while catching all nine innings of Tuesday's 7-1 loss to St. Louis. Luke Maile gets the starting nod behind the dish in the series finale.

Hurtubise is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Hurtubise had made starts in the outfield in each of the last eight games and served as the Reds' leadoff man on seven occasions, but he looks set to lose out on an everyday role after Cincinnati reinstated center fielder TJ Friedl (thumb) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday. As a left-handed hitter, Hurtubise won't make for a viable platoon mate for the Reds' three lefty-hitting outfielders (Friedl, Will Benson and Jake Fraley) nor lefty-hitting designated hitter Nick Martini, so it wouldn't be surprising if Hurtubise is sent back to Triple-A Louisville before long if his playing time becomes scarce. The 26-year-old has posted a .582 OPS over 39 plate appearances since getting his first big-league call-up May 13.

The Reds designated Ford for assignment Wednesday.

Ford signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract just three weeks ago but will exit the 40-man roster after going just 9-for-60 (.150) at the plate. The 31-year-old will undoubtedly clear waivers and could remain in the organization, as declining an outright assignment would mean forfeiting the remainder of his salary.

Luzardo (2-4) took the loss Tuesday against the Marlins, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four in six innings.

Luzardo managed to reach six innings for a third consecutive start, but never had a shot for a win after the Marlins were shut out. The Padres quickly got to him in the first with a two-run blast from Jurickson Profar and then Profar notched another RBI in the fifth. It was the first time Luzardo has allowed runs in the opening frame this season. The 26-year-old will carry a 4.18 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 50:16 K:BB (51.2 innings) into his next start against the Rays next week.

The Reds activated Friedl (thumb) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday. He'll start in center field and bat leadoff in the Reds' series finale with the Cardinals.

Friedl missed just two and a half weeks with a fractured left thumb and will make his return without going on a rehab assignment beforehand. The outfielder has been limited to just six games this season due to the thumb injury as well as the fractured wrist. He should see the bulk of the action in center field for Cincinnati now that he's been cleared for game action.

Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Nationals.

The veteran slugger broke open a scoreless tie when he took Jacob Barnes deep in the seventh inning, continuing his most recent hit streak. Ozuna has reached base safely in 21 straight games, a stretch in which he's slashing .324/.409/.662 with seven homers and 16 RBI.

Iglesias struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 13th save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Nationals.

The right-hander topped out at 97.5 mph and fired nine of 11 pitches for strikes as he breezed through the top of Washington's order. Iglesias appears to be finding his peak form, reeling off four straight scoreless appearances with a 5:0 K:BB. On the season, he sports a 2.21 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 20.1 innings.

Arenado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Cincinnati.

Arenado snapped an 11-game homerless drought in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Reds, but he will be given a breather for Wednesday's day game. Brendan Donovan will start at third base in place of Arenado.

Fried (5-2) picked up the win Tuesday, giving up seven hits and a walk over eight scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Nationals. He struck out six.

The southpaw was locked in a surprising pitchers' duel with Jake Irvin through six innings, but Fried outlasted his opposite number and Atlanta got to Washington's bullpen in the seventh. Fried has produced five quality starts in his last seven trips to the mound, allowing zero runs in four of them, and he sports a stellar 1.43 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 42:12 K:BB through 50.1 innings over that stretch. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the A's.

Waldron (3-5) got the win Tuesday over the Marlins after tossing seven shutout frames while allowing six hits and walking none. He struck out eight.

Waldron put together arguably his best outing of the season in a dominant win over the Marlins. He reached seven innings for the first time all year and managed to not walk a batter for just the second time this season. He reportedly used his knuckleball 55 percent of the time Tuesday night and generated 11 of his 15 whiffs with the pitch. He has 31 strikeouts over his last four starts (23 innings) after totaling just 29 strikeouts over his first seven starts of the year (34 innings). Waldron is now down to a 4.26 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 60:19 K:BB in 57 innings and lines up to face the Angels to begin next week.