MLB Player News

Nola will return from the COVID-19 injured list to start Tuesday against the Yankees, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Nola was scratched from his scheduled start on the final day of the first half due to contact tracing. He never tested positive for the virus himself, however, so his performance shouldn't be significantly impacted going forward.

Falter was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.

Falter hit the injured list on the final day before the break, but he was merely out due to contact tracing and never tested positive for the virus himself, so it's no surprise to see him back so soon. He's been largely effective in a multi-inning relief role outside of a five-run blowup against the Cubs in early July, as his 4.58 ERA comes with a very encouraging 20:1 K:BB in 17.2 innings.

Toussaint (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day injured list Friday.

The right-hander landed on the 60-day IL in late March with a strained shoulder but is primed for his season debut after making six rehab appearances in the minors over the past month. Toussaint started and covered six frames in his last two rehab outings, so he's a logical candidate to fill the rotation spot of Ian Anderson, who landed on the shelf with shoulder inflammation in a corresponding move.

Anderson was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to July 13.

Manager Brian Snitker said the right-hander was likely headed to the IL after experiencing shoulder soreness during his start Sunday, and the move is now official coming out of the All-Star break. The diagnosis of inflammation indicates Anderson avoided a serious injury, though it's not clear how long he's expected to be sidelined. Touki Toussaint (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move and could fill the spot in the starting rotation.

Carrasco (hamstring) threw 27 pitches across two innings in a rehab outing with High-A Brooklyn on Thursday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Carrasco appeared on the mound for the first time in a competitive game this season. He threw 17 strikes and generated four swinging strikes across two scoreless innings while touching 94 mph, and the fact that he was originally set to work only one inning is encouraging. Assuming no news emerges of a setback, the appearance is a step forward toward Carrasco's potential return in late July or early August.

Greene has struggled since his promotion to Triple-A Louisville, putting up a 5.24 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across five starts.

The strikeouts have still been there -- 25 in 22.2 innings -- but he's also walked a dozen and served up five homers (four of which came in his Triple-A debut). Since being bumped up a level, Greene has been unable to duplicate the length or the dominance that we saw from him in Double-A, and things seem to be getting worse, as he's posted a 4:6 K:BB in his last two starts. Of course, considering that he throws an easy 100 mph and has touched 105, there's still a lot to like about Greene as a prospect. If he can clean things up a little, the second-place Reds could bring him up to provide some much-needed bullpen help as they try to catch up with the Brewers in the NL Central race.

Ashcraft was torched for eight runs (seven earned) in a single inning on Tuesday against Double-A Pensacola, putting an end to a seven-start scoreless stretch that dated back to the end of May.

That's quite a thud to land with after 43 consecutive scoreless innings spread out across High-A and Double-A. He still has a 3.00 ERA and 0.95 WHIP despite this clunker, and he managed to strike out the side in the first inning before the wheels came off in the second. Overall, the 23-year-old has posted a 2.56 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 77:23 K:BB in 59.2 innings in the minors this year. Crucially, he's shown the ability to pitch deep into ballgames, having finished six innings four times in his last seven starts. While he's still got some work to do on his command, Ashcraft looks like he could grow into a major-league starter.

Lorenzen (shoulder) will return from the 60-day IL on Friday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

With Tejay Antone, Lucas Sims and now Art Warren all out, the Reds' bullpen could really use the reinforcement from Lorenzen. Because he's on the 60-day IL, the Reds still have to make room on the 40-man roster for Lorenzen.

Mahle will be the Reds' starter Friday against the Brewers as they resume play after the All-Star break, followed by Luis Castillo and then Sonny Gray, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Mahle has a win and a no-decision in his last two outings against the Brewers, but both of those starts were on the road. He's been far better on the road than in Great American Ballpark, where he'll pitch Friday and has a 6.06 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.

Gray (ribs) is slated to start Sunday's game against the Brewers, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Gray landed on the injured list with a strain in his rib cage July 8, but he should be able to return after spending the minimum amount of time on the shelf. The right-hander has posted a 2.10 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 25.2 innings across his last five starts, and it's unlikely that he'll face significant workload restrictions following the brief absence.