Farmer will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher for Friday's game against the Pirates, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Farmer is tabbed as the Reds' official starter, but he has completed no more than two innings in any appearance this season. That said, he'll almost certainly be in store for a brief outing, with lefty Andrew Abbott being the leading candidate to work in bulk relief behind him.

Manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that Bukauskas (shoulder) is recovering from an oblique strain, and the Brewers are hopeful that he'll be available for game action "by the end of September," MLB.com reports.

Bukauskas was initially placed on the injured list back on April 14 with a right lat strain, but the Brewers later reclassified the injury as a right tricep strain. He then experienced a setback with his shoulder during a June 13 rehab appearance, resulting in him being shut down again. Bukauskas resumed his rehab assignment in late July, but he made just three appearances in the minors before apparently tweaking his oblique at some point along the way. While the Brewers are optimistic that Bukauskas will make it back from the IL during the final month of the season, it's not clear when he'll be ready to start up his rehab assignment for a third time.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that Zastryzny (elbow) experienced some "tightness" coming out of his most recent rehab appearance Aug. 13 but is expected to resume throwing in the coming days, MLB.com reports.

Though he made just two appearances for Triple-A Nashville before being pulled off the rehab assignment, Zastryzny appears to have avoided a major setback and could be cleared for game action soon if he responds well to his upcoming throwing session. Before landing on the 15-day injured list July 26 with left elbow tendinitis, Zastryzny made nine appearances for Milwaukee and gave up one earned run on four hits and one walk over 7.2 innings.

Helsley allowed one hit during a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the save Thursday against the Brewers. He did not strike out a batter.

Helsley allowed a one-out single but otherwise breezed in closing out the three-run victory. It marked his league-leading 39th save of the season, more than doubling his previous career high of 19 back in 2022. Helsley has been especially dominant over his last 18 games, posting a 1.93 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 18 strikeouts, 12 saves (14 opportunities) and three wins over 18.2 innings.

Gillaspie was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.

Gillaspie has spent the majority of his 2024 season at Triple-A El Paso and has maintained a 31:14 K:BB across 35 innings at the level. He'll likely serve as a low-leverage option in the San Diego bullpen.

Nunez (forearm) is expected to be activated from the injured list Friday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Nunez made a rehab appearance with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and threw a scoreless inning. He's flying to meet the Mets for their road trip in San Diego and is set to be activated, assuming he can get through another throwing session without issue.

Suter (shoulder) has been sent to Triple-A Louisville to begin a rehab assignment.

Suter has been shelved since late July due to a partial tear of his left teres major muscle but has been cleared for game action after completing a bullpen session earlier this week. The lefty reliever is expected to require at least three rehab appearances, so he could be looking at an early September return from the injured list.

The Reds designated Kriske for assignment Thursday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the signing of Dominic Smith. Kriske has spent the entirety of the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Louisville, where he's posted a 3.10 ERA and 72:29 K:BB over 49.1 innings. The control has been a problem, but Kriske's swing-and-miss ability could mean some interest on waivers.

Martinez came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 11-7 win over the Blue Jays, coughing up six runs on six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out three.

All the damage off the right-hander came as a result of home runs, as George Springer and Spencer Horwitz took Martinez deep in the first inning before Ernie Clement launched a three-run shot in the third. It was the first time all season Martinez has served up multiple long balls in a game, and the first time he's been tagged for more than three runs since May 22. Since returning to the rotation in early August, the 34-year-old has posted a 3.63 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 19:3 K:BB through 22.1 innings, and he'll look to bounce back in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the A's.

Martinez earned a save against the Marlins on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four batters over 1.2 innings.

Martinez was called upon in the eighth inning with the Diamondbacks clinging to a one-run lead and the tying run on second base with one out. He struck out Xavier Edwards and got Geraldo Perdomo to fly out to escape the threat, then returned in the bottom of the ninth after Arizona put up two runs in the top half of the frame. Martinez made things interesting by surrendering a run and allowing the tying run to get to second base on a two-out wild pitch, but the rookie closer ultimately slammed the door with a game-ending strikeout. He's notched a save on consecutive days for the first time in his big-league career and remains the team's top option for save chances with Paul Sewald at least temporarily moved out of the closer role.