MLB Player News

Matz (1-1) took the loss against Oakland on Wednesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings while striking out four.

Matz got off to an decent start, striking out three of the first six batters he faced before getting tagged for two runs on an Esteury Ruiz home run in the bottom of the third. The lefty would then allow three consecutive hits to open the fifth, leading to three more runs coming across for Oakland as he took his first loss of the season. Matz had not allowed more than two runs in any of his first three starts coming in, though he's now given up 15 hits over his last 9.2 innings of work. The home run from Ruiz was also the first long ball that Matz has allowed this season.

Gibaut (forearm) did not make a scheduled appearance for Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday in order to be further evaluated, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Gibaut had thrown 25 pitches in a rehab appearance Tuesday and was scheduled to pitch again the next day. The Reds had targeted April 20 as a return for the right-hander, but manager David Bell said it will likely take longer now. The team will know more after Gibaut visits a doctor, and the pitcher could have his rehab assignment paused.

Espinal made a second consecutive start at third base in place of an unavailable Jeimer Candelario (illness) on Wednesday and went 0-for-3 in a 5-1 loss to the Mariners.

Espinal is 0-for-6 in the two starts and hitless over his last eight at-bats. With a scheduled day off Thursday, Candelario could be ready to go Friday at home against the Angels.

Encarnacion-Strand did not play Wednesday due to illness, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Spencer Steer replaced him at first base.

It had earlier been reported that Encarnacion-Strand was merely resting -- his first day off of the season -- but Cincinnati manager David Bell confirmed the illness. Bell didn't provide specifics on the symptoms but indicated Encarnacion-Strand wasn't feeling well in advance of the three-game series in Seattle.

Steer started at first base for an unavailable Christian Encarnacion-Strand (illness) in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to Seattle. He went 0-for-3.

Steer was one of eight Reds in the order to go hitless against Mariner pitching. Elly De La Cruz's second-inning home run off Bryce Miller was the lone offense mustered by Cincinnati. Reds manager David Bell wasn't specific on Encarnacion-Strand's symptoms but mentioned he hadn't been feeling well ahead of the series in Seattle. Steer is 1-for-14 over the last four games but still has a .992 OPS on the season.

Moreno (thumb) entered Wednesday's game in the ninth inning as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1 in a 5-3 loss to the Cubs.

Moreno was scratched from the lineup the last two games due to the injury. That he pinch hit for his replacement, Tucker Barnhart, and could have entered the game had Arizona tied it up in the ninth, suggests manager Torey Lovullo was comfortable with the thought of Moreno catching. He could rejoin the starting nine Thursday in San Francisco.

Barnhart went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Cubs.

Barnhart made a second consecutive start in place of Gabriel Moreno (thumb) and had his first extra-base hit of the season. Moreno did enter the game as a pinch hitter for Barnhart in the bottom of the ninth inning, flying out to right field. That suggests Moreno could return to the starting lineup Thursday at San Francisco.

Pederson entered Wednesday's game as a pinch hitter and went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in 5-3 loss to the Cubs.

Pederson's ninth-inning blast closed the gap but was not enough for a Diamondbacks team that squandered opportunities with runners on base and made three errors. It was the second consecutive game with a home run for Pederson, who has hit safely in four of the last five contests. That stretch includes three of his four extra-base hits for the season. Pederson is slashing .333/.467/.576 over 46 plate appearances.

Joe went 0-for-3 with a walk Wednesday against the Mets.

Joe got off to an excellent start to the season, which helped him earn more playing time than expected while splitting time between right field and first base. He's been in the lineup for six of Pittsburgh's last seven games but has now gone just 4-for-22 in that span. Joe will likely need to turn things around quickly to maintain his playing time against righties, with Edward Olivares being his primary competition for plate appearances.

Bednar allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two across two-thirds of an inning Wednesday against the Mets.

Bednar hadn't pitched since Friday, so the Pirates got him work, even with a five-run deficit. He allowed three of the first four batters he faced to reach base and allowed an earned run, though he managed to end his appearance with a pair of punchouts. His poor line was made worse when Josh Fleming allowed a pair of inherited runners to score. Bednar's allowed at least one earned run in four of his seven appearances and has an ERA of 13.50.