MLB Player News

The Reds traded Diaz to the Dodgers on Thursday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Mike Villani, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Diaz dazzled during his rookie campaign, finishing the 2022 season with a 1.84 ERA and 0.96 WHIP through 63.2 innings. Fast forward just three years later, and the 28-year-old righty is now struggling to be effective in Triple-A, where he owns a 4.61 ERA and 1.97 WHIP over 13.2 frames. The Dodgers organization has developed a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, so Diaz could certainly benefit from a change of scenery. However, he will first need to prove he's worthy of a big-league bullpen spot by turning things around at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Atlanta recalled Petersen from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

Petersen will come up from the minors to give Atlanta some extra bullpen depth for the second game of Thursday's twin bill in Philadelphia. He's turned in a 2.45 ERA and 1.62 WHIP across 14.2 Triple-A innings since joining the organization at the start of April, and with AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) moving to the injured list in a corresponding move, there's room on the active roster for Petersen to remain in Atlanta for a few more days if he performs well.

Romano earned the save in the opening game of Thursday's doubleheader with Atlanta, allowing a hit and three walks in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out two.

Romano pulled a rabbit out of his hat Thursday afternoon, as he managed to close out a 5-4 victory despite allowing four men to reach base. Atlanta would load the bases with two outs before Romano struck out Eli White to end the game. The 32-year-old Romano seems to have firmed his grasp on the ninth-inning job in Philly despite some recent struggles -- he's allowed three runs on four hits and four walks in his last three appearances (2.2 innings). Overall, Romano is 8-for-10 in save chances this year with a 7.29 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 27:11 K:BB across 21 innings.

The Reds optioned Mey to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.

After starting his MLB career with a 1.80 ERA and 0.90 WHIP through 10 innings, Mey has given up four earned runs in three frames across his last three appearances. He'll now head back to the minor leagues in order to right the ship, and the Reds will presumably make a corresponding addition to their bullpen ahead of Friday's series opener against the Cubs.

Payamps cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Nashville, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers kicked Payamps off their 40-man roster last Thursday after he'd accumulated an 8.35 ERA and 1.69 WHIP through 18.1 innings. No team was willing to take on the remainder of his $2.995 million salary for that level of performance, so he'll remain in the organization and attempt to earn his way back into the big leagues with Nashville.

Harrison is slated to start Friday's game against the Marlins in Miami.

After getting called up from Triple-A Sacramento on May 4, Harrison initially worked out of the bullpen, but he moved into the rotation last week following Justin Verlander's (pectoral) placement on the injured list. Harrison took a loss to the Nationals in his first start with the Giants last Saturday, giving up two runs in four innings while striking out four batters. The lefty should have a longer leash in his second start after tossing just 57 pitches against Washington, but he may not be guaranteed any turns through the rotation beyond Friday. Verlander threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and could be ready to return from the IL as soon as next week.

Henriquez (3-1) was charged with a blown save but picked up the win Wednesday against the Padres, allowing two runs on one hit and one walk over two innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander was called in to protect a 7-6 lead in the seventh inning but served up a two-run homer to Gavin Sheets, only for the Marlins to strike back for three runs in the top of the eighth. Calvin Faucher ended up working the ninth for the save, but Henriquez may be Miami's top high-leverage option at the moment. Wednesday's homer was the first on his ledger since April 27, while the earned runs were the first he'd given up since April 28. Through 12 appearances in May, Henriquez sports a 1.38 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB in 13 innings while collecting two wins, two holds and his first career save.

The Phillies appointed de Geus from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to serve as the 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.

De Geus, whom the Phillies claimed off waivers from the Marlins on April 1, will be making his Philadelphia debut if he gets used out of the bullpen for either game of the twin bill. The right-hander has been sharp at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season, logging a 0.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB in 19 innings.

Brasier worked around a hit to log a scoreless inning and earn a hold in a 2-1 win against Colorado on Wednesday.

After starter Matthew Boyd allowed only an unearned run across six strong innings, Brasier worked a clean seventh to pick up his first hold of the season. The veteran righty has rattled off four straight scoreless appearances since returning from the injured list Friday, and he has a stellar 2.08 ERA for the year, albeit in only 4.1 innings due to the time he missed with a strained left groin. Brasier could take on more high-leverage work moving forward if he stays healthy and continues to pitch well.

Pressly, who has rattled off eight straight scoreless appearances, last recorded a save on April 13.

Since allowing nine runs (eight earned) in a nightmare of an outing back on May 6, Pressly has gone on his ongoing scoreless streak, though he's fallen out of the closer role as well. Daniel Palencia, who recorded the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Rockies, now has four saves over the last week and a 1.64 ERA this month. As long as Palencia is pitching well, he should stay ahead of Pressly in the bullpen pecking order, with Porter Hodge (oblique) likely set to slide back into a setup role when he returns from the injured list. Pressly's subpar numbers, along with Palencia's emergence and Hodge's eventual return, has diminished the former's fantasy appeal.