MLB Player News

Espinal will start at third base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Espinal saw a streak of six consecutive starts come to an end in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Arizona, and before that, he enjoyed a stretch of 11 consecutive starts. He looks as though he could fall into regular playing time once again, as the Reds placed Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Jeimer Candelario will move over from his usual spot at third base to cover Encarnacion-Strand's post at first base, opening up the hot corner for Espinal. Despite seeing plenty of usage in his utility role this season, Espinal has provided the Reds with underwhelming numbers (.169 average, one home run, four stolen bases, 12 RBI and five runs) across 90 plate appearances.

Wilson (knee) has made two relief appearances since exiting early in a 6-4 loss to the Padres on April 30, recording two outs while surrendering four earned runs on four hits and no walks.

After leaving the April 30 game when he took a line drive off his right knee, Wilson was sent in for X-rays, which revealed no major damage. He went unused for the next couple of days before he was summoned out of the bullpen Friday and Tuesday. He struck out the lone batter he faced in Friday's 3-0 loss to Baltimore, but he was bludgeoned for four hits -- including two home runs -- in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Arizona.

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

McCarthy maintains a .369 on-base percentage over 86 plate appearances this season and has seemingly moved into an everyday role in the outfield while Alek Thomas (hamstring) is on the shelf, but the 26-year-old McCarthy will hit the bench Wednesday. The Diamondbacks haven't indicated that the lefty-hitting McCarthy is dealing with an injury, but he was lifted for a pinch hitter in Tuesday's 6-2 win and is now on the bench Wednesday while the Reds bring a right-hander (Graham Ashcraft) to the hill. Pavin Smith will replace McCarthy in the Arizona outfield.

Newman will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Reds.

Newman will make his third straight start at shortstop -- all against right-handed pitching -- and looks to have supplanted Blaze Alexander as the Diamondbacks' preferred option at the position while the team waits for Geraldo Perdomo (knee) to return from the injured list. Though he's turned in a poor .559 OPS through 62 plate appearances with Arizona this season, Newman has been a much more polished defender at shortstop than Alexander.

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

Alexander is on the bench for a third straight game, with all three absences coming against right-handed pitching. The rookie has a lowly .544 OPS over his past nine games and has gotten poor reviews for his work in the field, so he looks like he'll remain in a backup role at shortstop behind Kevin Newman until Geraldo Perdomo (knee) is back from the injured list.

The Reds transferred Williamson (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for first baseman/designated hitter Mike Ford, who signed a one-year deal with the Reds. Williamson will begin a rehab assignment Thursday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League as he works his way back from a left shoulder strain, but he'll need some time to get ramped back up. He won't be eligible for activation until late May as a result of his move to the 60-day IL.

The Reds placed Encarnacion-Strand on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a right ulnar styloid fracture.

Encarnacion-Strand was hit on the hand by a pitch late last month and missed four games with lingering soreness. While initial imaging didn't reveal a new injury, it did show that the infielder has an old fracture that could be contributing to the discomfort. Ultimately, the Reds have opted to give him some extra down time, although it's not clear how long Encarnacion-Strand might be out. Cincinnati signed Mike Ford to the 26-man active roster to provide extra depth at first base/designated hitter while Encarnacion-Strand is out, and Cincinnati could also shift Jeimer Candelario over to first base and use Santiago Espinal at third base.

The Marlins reinstated Garrett (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Garrett isn't expected to make his season debut for the big club until Sunday versus Philadelphia, but he'll rejoin the Marlins a few days early after fellow starter Edward Cabrera (shoulder) was placed on the IL in a corresponding move. The 26-year-old southpaw opened the season on the shelf due to a left shoulder impingement and made two rehab starts before a brief shutdown period while he contended with a dead-arm phase. Garrett has bounced back well since resuming his rehab assignment April 26, compiling a 1.32 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB in 13.2 innings across three outings between Triple-A Jacksonville and the Marlins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate. Garrett built up to 82 pitches in his latest rehab outing Monday and isn't expected to face any major workload restrictions when he debuts this weekend.

The Marlins placed Cabrera on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right shoulder impingement.

Cabrera was removed after two innings during his start in Tuesday's 8-2 loss to the Dodgers with what was referred to as right biceps discomfort, but it's officially a shoulder impingement that will force him to the IL. It's the same injury that kept him out for the first few weeks of the season. Cabrera will be eligible to return from the IL later this month, but there's currently no timetable for the righty.

Outman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.

The lefty-hitting Outman will retreat to the bench Wednesday with southpaw Ryan Weathers taking the hill for Miami. He'll be replaced in center field by Andy Pages.