MLB Player News

Ortiz went 2-for-2 with a solo homer, two walks and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the Pirates.

Ortiz is now 5-for-10 with three extra-base hits and a .615 OBP over his last three games while securing the everyday third-base job in Milwaukee. Overall, the 25-year-old Ortiz is slashing .277/.384/.511 with four homers, 12 RBI, 13 runs scored and a stolen base through 37 games this season.

Soler (shoulder) went 0-for-4 with one strikeout in his first rehab game with Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.

Soler had a freak accident Tuesday when he was hit in the head by a ball while taking batting practice, but he came out of the incident no worse for wear and was cleared to begin his rehab assignment a day later. The slugger is coming back from a right shoulder strain and should be activated from the 10-day injured list in the coming days.

Martinez is expected to operate as a bulk reliever behind opener Brent Suter in Thursday's game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Martinez has made four starts this season, but because he'll be available on only three days' rest after recorded four outs of the bullpen in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Giants, the Reds will deploy him in bulk relief Thursday in what would have been Nick Lodolo's (groin) turn in the rotation. With Lodolo on 15-day injured list and set to miss at least two weeks, Martinez could move into a more traditional starting role when that spot in the rotation comes up again next week.

Hernandez (0-1) was the pitcher of record in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Giants, covering six innings and striking out three while allowing three earned runs on four hits and one walk.

After being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier in the day, Hernandez held his own in his first start with the Dodgers, retiring seven of the first nine batters he faced before being tagged for two runs on a Mike Yastrzemski home run in the bottom of the third. The right-hander would allow another run on a Heliot Ramos double in the sixth but was still able to get through the frame and log a quality start in his debut. Hernandez produced 10 swinging strikes on the night and certainly made a case for more innings at the big-league level, though manager Dave Roberts said after the game that the right-hander will serve as a long-relief option out of the bullpen in the near term, per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports.

Suter will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher for Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

With Nick Lodolo (groin) landing on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, the Reds had a hole in the rotation for Thursday's series opener in Los Angeles. Suter has prior starting experience in the majors and previously worked three-plus innings on two occasions this season, but after making one-inning relief appearances Monday and Tuesday, Suter is unlikely to work more than one or two frames Thursday before exiting the contest. Nick Martinez will be available on three days' rest and is expected to work in bulk relief once Suter exits the contest, making Martinez the more attractive target for streaming purposes.

Blach is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Giants in San Francisco,

He'll be awarded a second consecutive turn through the rotation after he limited the Rangers to one run on seven hits and no walks over five innings en route to grabbing his first win of the season in his previous start Sunday. With Kyle Freeland's (elbow) return from the 15-day injured list not considered imminent, Blach should have a fair amount of security in the rotation.

German allowed one run while striking out four over four innings in his season debut Tuesday with Single-A Bradenton.

It's his first game action since last July, as the Yankees placed German on the restricted list in August following a clubhouse incident. He became a free agent after being outrighted off New York's 40-man roster and eventually signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates in March. German could eventually become a rotation option for Pittsburgh later this season, but it's unlikely to be anytime soon.

Webb (4-4) earned the win over the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing three hits and three walks over six shutout innings while striking out five.

Webb allowed three of the first four batters to reach base in the opening frame but managed to work his way out of the jam, getting two of the three outs by way of strikeout. The right-hander would allow just two walks and two singles from that point on en route to earning his fourth win of the season, snapping a three-game losing skid. Webb has now hurled six or more shutout innings in three of his last six starts, posting a 30:12 K:BB over that stretch. He's also logged quality starts in seven of his 10 outings this season.

Espinal went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Epsinal cracked his second home run of the season in the fifth inning and has hit safely in five straight games, going 6-for-15. The infielder is playing more than originally projected, filling in at second base for Matt McLain (shoulder) or third for Noelvi Marte (suspension), but Espinal's .200 average and .536 OPS are not enticing.

Lynn (1-2) took the loss against the Angels on Wednesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five over five frames.

Lynn got off to about as poor of a start as he could have asked for, surrendering a leadoff homer to Nolan Schanuel to open the game and failing to retire four of the first five batters he faced. All four runs surrendered by Lynn came in the first inning, though he would actually allow the first two batters to reach in the second as well, before working his way out of the jam. The veteran right-hander has now allowed four earned runs in three consecutive starts and has not made it through six innings since April 16 against the Athletics, which is a span of five starts.