MLB Player News

The Reds placed Pagan on the 15-day injured list prior to Thursday's game against the Padres due to right triceps tightness.

Pagan hadn't pitched since Sunday due to the injury, and though an MRI on his arm recently came back negative, the right-hander apparently didn't respond well to playing catch Tuesday. He'll be shut down for the next two weeks while recovering from the injury, depriving the Reds of one of their middle-relief options in front of closer Alexis Diaz.

The Giants recalled Avila from Double-A Richmond on Thursday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Avila was optioned Wednesday but will return to the 26-man active roster one day later to replace lefty Blake Snell (personal), who was placed on the paternity list. Manager Bob Melvin will have another relief option at his disposal while Avila is with the big club, but the 26-year-old will likely be sent to Triple-A Sacramento once Snell rejoins the team.

Martinez (1-3) took the loss Wednesday as the Reds were downed 7-3 by the Padres, coughing up five runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out two.

Making his fifth start of the season, Martinez served up a leadoff homer to Luis Arraez that proved to be a bad omen for the rest of the game as he lasted only 66 pitches (40 strikes) before getting the hook. The right-hander has been volatile in a swingman role for Cincy, posting a 4.81 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 31:6 K:BB through 43 innings, but with Nick Lodolo (groin) set to rejoin the rotation Monday, Martinez should be headed back to the bullpen.

Beeks allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk to blow the save Wednesday against the Athletics.

Beeks was tasked with protecting a one-run lead and retired two of the first three batters he faced. However, he went on to allow the next two hitters to reach base, blowing his first save since taking over as the Rockies' closer. Beeks has allowed only two earned runs in seven innings since stepping into ninth-inning duties, but his 1.57 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB in that span are likely more indicative of his future results.

Koch picked up the save in an extra-innings win over Oakland on Wednesday, allowing one walk over one-third of an inning.

Koch entered the contest with two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the 12th and proceeded to walk the first batter he faced, putting him in an even bigger jam. However, the right-hander was able to get Max Schuemann to fly out in the following at-bat to secure his first save of the season. Koch got the opportunity after Jalen Beeks blew the save in the ninth, marking the former's first big-league appearance this season.

Garrett (5-1) took the loss Wednesday against Cleveland, allowing a run on two hits and a walk in one inning. He struck out two.

After entering with the game tied 3-3 in the seventh inning, Garrett allowed a leadoff single to David Fry, who advanced to second on a wild pitch before eventually scoring on a Johnathan Rodriguez base hit. It's the first loss of the year for the 31-year-old Garrett -- he's allowed just two earned runs in his last 13.1 innings. Despite Wednesday's setback, Garrett's emerged as a top option in the Mets' bullpen and could see the occasional save chance with Edwin Diaz temporarily shifting to a lower-leverage role. Overall, Garrett sports a 1.04 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP while posting a stellar 14.9 K/9 across 26 innings.

Atlanta optioned Hernandez to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

Atlanta opted to keep Hernandez around for a bit after he was initially called up from Gwinnett to serve as the 27th man for Monday's doubleheader against the Padres, but he'll now head back to the minors to make room for Thursday's starter, AJ Smith-Shawver, who was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Hernandez has allowed one unearned run over two relief innings with the big club this season.

Miller will serve as the Giants' opening pitcher for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Mason Black had been lined up to start Thursday, but he could be deployed as a bulk reliever in the series finale once Miller exits the contest. Miller has been used as an opener once previously this season, throwing a scoreless inning in Boston back on May 1.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Brown will start Thursday's game against Atlanta at Wrigley Field, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Brown will pick up his fifth start of the season, filling the spot in the rotation that belonged to Kyle Hendricks before the veteran right-hander was moved to the bullpen earlier this week. Because he hasn't started since May 2 and will be pitching on three days' rest after covering two frames in relief Sunday, Brown may not be asked to give the Cubs more than three or four innings as he re-enters the rotation. Hendricks hasn't been used since his last start Friday and could be called upon to piggyback Brown, but Counsell hasn't outlined his plans for when Brown exits the contest. Brown may not be in line for a lengthy stay in the rotation, as the Cubs could get Jordan Wicks (forearm) back from the injured list next week to take over as their No. 5 starter.

The Cardinals optioned Roycroft to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Roycroft served as the 27th man for the Cardinals on Wednesday and didn't make an appearance. The big right-hander will rejoin the bullpen at Memphis.