MLB Player News

The Reds added Abbott to their taxi squad Sunday, and he's expected to enter Cincinnati's rotation during the upcoming week, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Cincinnati has five healthy starters at the moment, so expect manager David Bell to clarify whether one of those pitchers is moving to the bullpen, the minors or the injured list to clear a spot for Abbott, or if the 24-year-old lefty will become part of a six-man rotation. After earning a promotion to Louisville following a dazzling start to the season at Double-A Chattanooga, Abbott didn't slow down over his seven Triple-A starts, pitching to a 3.05 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 54:14 K:BB in 38.1 innings. The strikeout upside Abbott offers will make him an intriguing speculative pickup in deeper leagues, though he could endure some hiccups in his first exposure to the majors.

Ortiz didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Cardinals, giving up one run on one hit and two walks over two innings. He struck out one.

An hour-long rain delay in the third inning caused Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton to turn to his bullpen rather than risk injury to the 24-year-old right-hander. Even in his brief outing, Ortiz displayed his usual inefficiency while teasing his upside -- he needed 32 pitches to record six outs but generated 10 called or swinging strikes along the way. If he stays on turn, Ortiz should be well-rested for his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Mets.

Montgomery (2-7) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk over 5.2 innings as the Cardinals fell 4-3 to the Pirates. He struck out five.

The veteran southpaw dropped his seventh straight decision, a streak that dates back to April 13, but there wasn't much more he could have done to avoid it. An hour-long rain delay in the third inning didn't shake his focus, as Montgomery kept Pittsburgh off the board through the first four frames, but a Nolan Arenado error in the sixth led to three unearned runs, and the St. Louis offense couldn't climb out of the hole. Montgomery will take a 4.23 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 60:18 K:BB through 66 innings into his next outing, which is likely to come at home next weekend against the Reds.

Sheehan earned the win for Double-A Tulsa on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over 5.1 innings.

Sheehan put up absurd numbers in May, allowing just one run and eight hits over 24.2 innings while posting a 41:10 K:BB. His first start in June was an extension of that dominance, as he racked up 17 whiffs and seven more punchouts. The right-hander's season stats include a 1.64 WHIP, 0.79 WHIP and 15.1 K/9, with his only real flaw being a so-so 3.5 BB/9. Sheehan has improved in that area of late with just six walks over his past 20.1 frames as he continues to emerge as one of the minors' most exciting pitching prospects. He's yet to pitch at the Triple-A level and may not see the majors until next season, but Sheehan is certainly a name to watch and could end up as the most impactful arm among the Dodgers' many young pitching prospects.

Nelson dropped to 2-3 in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks with no strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

Nelson's four walks matched his season high, and he needed 98 pitches (64 strikes) to get 14 outs. This was always going to be a tough matchup, and the silver lining is that he didn't get shelled. The 25-year-old is now at a 5.40 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 37:22 K:BB through 61.2 innings through 12 starts this season. Nelson is lined up for a more favorable road start in Detroit his next time out.

Strider (6-2) allowed two runs on three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in six innings, earning the win in Saturday's 5-2 victory over Arizona.

The four walks were a season high, but he was able to work around the free passes despite less-than-dominant stuff. Strider still managed to throw 63 of 99 pitches for strikes, including 15 whiffs. Walk rate is about the only thing he could improve on this year -- he's posted a 3.4 BB/9 so far. Strider owns a 2.97 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 113 strikeouts through 69.2 innings, and He's lined up for a favorable home start against the Nationals next week.

Perez (3-1) earned the win Saturday, allowing four hits and one walk over five scoreless innings in a 12-1 win over the Athletics. He struck out five.

Perez made his second consecutive start without allowing a run, moving to 10 straight scoreless innings. Though the 20-year-old has had some struggles with command in the bigs (4.1 BB/9), he has struck out 24 batters in 24 innings of work thus far to go along with a 2.25 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Perez is tentatively expected to face the White Sox and Mariners in his next two starts and should remain firmly in the fantasy conversation.

Darvish improved to 4-4 in Saturday's 6-0 win over the Cubs, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out nine over seven shutout innings.

Darvish had his worst start of the year versus the Yankees on Sunday, but he responded in a big way. This was the second time he's completed seven innings in 2023, and the three baserunners he allowed were a season low. The 36-year-old's performance has tailed off a bit -- he'd allowed at least four runs in three of his previous six starts before Saturday's dominant showing. Darvish is at a 4.10 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 68:18 K:BB through 63.2 innings through 11 outings this season. He'll look to build off this one, though he's projected for a challenging road start in Colorado his next time out.

Smyly (5-3) took the loss Saturday versus the Padres, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Smyly was no match for opposing pitcher Yu Darvish, who allowed just three baserunners over seven innings. It was a rather pedestrian effort from Smyly, who came up an out short of a quality start. He's given up 10 runs over his last 15.1 innings with an 11:7 K:BB in that span. The veteran southpaw has a 3.56 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 57 strikeouts over 65.2 innings through 12 starts this season. He'll look to get back on track with a road start versus the Angels next week.

Cobb (5-2) allowed five hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over 7.2 shutout innings to earn the win in Saturday's 4-0 triumph over the Orioles.

Cobb was lit up for seven runs over four innings against the Brewers his last time out, but he responded with his fourth scoreless outing of the season. He's gone at least seven innings in each of those stellar starts. This was also the first time in his last six appearances that he didn't walk a batter. Cobb is at a 2.71 ERA despite a 1.32 WHIP and 64:18 K:BB over 69.2 innings. The right-hander is set to face a tough test in his next start, which is projected to be in Colorado next week.