MLB Player News

Stephenson is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Stephenson will get a well-deserved breather for Thursday's day game after he started in each of Cincinnati's last seven games, with six of those starts coming behind the plate. Luke Maile will get the nod at catcher Thursday and form a battery with starting pitcher Nick Martinez.

Bohm went 4-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a walk in Wednesday's 7-4 loss to the Reds.

Bohm's been on a tear of late. He now has multiple hits in four straight contests while extending his hitting streak to eight games -- he's 16-for-30 with a 1.522 OPS in that span. The 27-year-old Bohm's now slashing .337/.430/.558 with three homers, 21 RBI and 11 runs scored through his first 25 games this season.

Fraley (illness) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Though Jonathan India will rejoin the lineup as the Reds' designated hitter following a four-game absence due to an illness, Fraley will stick on the bench for a sixth consecutive contest while he's had a slower recovery from an ailment of his own. According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, manager David Bell relayed Wednesday that Fraley has been showing improvement, so the Reds are seemingly hopeful that the 28-year-old outfielder will return to action at some point during the weekend series versus the Rangers.

India (illness) will serve as the Reds' designated hitter and No. 6 batter in Thursday's game against the Phillies.

India is back in the starting nine for the first time since Saturday, albeit in a non-defensive role as the Reds look to ease him back in following his bout with an illness that kept him on the bench for four games. He'll likely reprise his usual duties at second base over the weekend, at which point Santiago Espinal will head back to the bench and serve as a utility infielder.

The Phillies optioned Clemens to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

He was up with the big club for three games while Bryce Harper was on paternity leave, but he'll now head back to Lehigh Valley as Harper rejoins the club ahead of Thursday's game in Cincinnati. Clemens went 2-for-4 with a home run in his lone start this week.

Hudson (2-0) earned the win Wednesday over the Pirates, allowing one hit over 1.2 scoreless innings. He struck out one.

Hudson has now earned wins in his last two appearances as he continues to impress early in the year. The left-hander has allowed just one run over 13.1 innings while posting an impressive 0.60 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB. Hudson made six appearances with the Dodgers last season, working to a 7.27 ERA over 8.2 innings.

The Phillies reinstated Harper (personal) from the paternity leave list Thursday.

Harper missed the first three games of the series in Cincinnati after welcoming his third child into the world, but he's back for the series finale in Cincinnati. The two-time MVP will start at first base and bat third against the Reds.

Reynolds went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers.

Reynolds got the Pirates on the board in the third inning with a two-run shot off Bryse Wilson, Pittsburgh's only two runs in the eventual defeat. It's the third homer of the year for Reynolds and his first extra-base hit in 13 games. The switch-hitting outfielder is now slashing .263/.386/.411 with 15 RBI, nine runs scored and a pair of stolen bases through 25 games this season.

Ortiz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.

He started the last four games at third base but will give way to Oliver Dunn for Thursday's tilt. Ortiz has been struggling at the plate lately, going 1-for-13 across his last seven contests, though he does have a 3:3 K:BB over that span.

Senzel went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 11-2 loss to the Dodgers.

The 28-year-old third baseman produced the Nationals' first run of the night in the second inning by launching a Landon Knack fastball over the fence in left-center field. Senzel has two homers on the season with both coming in the last three games, but he's gone just 5-for-25 with a 2:9 BB:K since returning from the thumb injury he suffered Opening Day. His spot in the starting lineup seems fairly secure unless Brady House forces an early promotion, but Senzel's fantasy upside remains limited.