MLB Player News

Castillo (1-3) gave up four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out seven over six innings in a loss to the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

The 24-year-old more than held his own in yet another tough matchup -- in his six starts, Castillo has faced the Nationals twice, the Diamondbacks twice, the Brewers and the Rockies at Coors Field. Despite the tough schedule, Castillo now sits with an impressive 3.86 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 43:15 K:BB over 35 innings this year, making him pretty easily the Reds' best starter since his callup. However, things won't get any easier for Castillo in the immediate future with a road start against the Yankees lined up for early next week.

Corbin (7-9) allowed one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out six over 7.1 innings in a win over the Reds on Thursday.

Called upon to replace Taijuan Walker (paternity) on Thursday, Corbin shined in Cincinnati, turning in his eighth straight start with three runs or fewer allowed. He got himself into trouble in the fourth, but Corbin escaped without allowing a run after loading the bases with nobody out. His season numbers are still unsightly, but Corbin's recent run of success has his stock trending upward ahead of an upcoming two-step (vs Braves, at Cardinals).

Lynn gave up just one run on three hits and a walk in six innings pitched Thursday against the Mets, but he was left with a no-decision. He also struck out five.

Sixty-seven of Lynn's 104 pitches went for strikes as he dominated Mets' hitters all afternoon. The only blemish on his record was the solo home run he gave up to Lucas Duda in the second inning, but the Cardinals weren't able to pick him up offensively to get the win. Interestingly, this is the first run Lynn allowed since July 4, helping him lower his ERA all the way to a solid 3.30 mark. His next start will come Tuesday at home against the Rockies.

Lugo held the Cardinals at bay Thursday, tossing 6.2 innings of one-run ball while giving up just four hits and a walk. He also struck out five, but came away with a no-decision.

The young right-hander threw nearly 70 percent of his pitches for strikes, but the Mets' bats were unable to pick up the slack to get Lugo the W. This marks his second consecutive quality start, as he now possesses a 4.05 ERA along with a 33:14 K:BB in 46.2 innings this season. He's expected to take the mound next in San Diego on Tuesday.

Lorenzen may be given a shot to win a rotation spot in 2018, C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Despite bouncing around with his role in his short major-league career, the right-hander could reverse course again as the Reds look for some semblance of consistency in their starting quintet. The 25-year-old struggled with a 5.40 ERA in 2015, but he did make 21 starts and could ramp up his workload if stretched out properly heading into or during spring training. Lorenzen shined as a reliever in 2016 (2.88 ERA, 8.6 K/9, 2.3 BB/9 in 50 innings) and has been serviceable this year, though. He might even land the majority of save opportunities to finish 2017 should the Reds trade Raisel Iglesias. Still, dynasty players scrounging for cheap stashes among starters also could look his way.

Woodruff (hamstring) threw 3.2 innings in a rehab game with Triple-A Colorado Springs on Wednesday and is "getting close to being an option" for the big-league squad again, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff was set to make his big-league debut June 13, but he injured his hamstring in pregame warmups and has been sidelined ever since. It seems likely he will need at least one more rehab outing, but he could be back at 100 percent after that, at which point the Brewers will have to decide whether to keep him on the major-league roster or option him back to Colorado Springs.

Kahaloa's 50-game suspension for a drug of abuse has ended but he has not appeared in a game yet this season as the Reds try to get him help, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America reports.

It was the second suspension the Reds' prospect had received for a drug of abuse after pitching last season with Rookie-level Billings. The Reds have said from the time the suspension was announced that they would focus on his health first before his baseball career, and the decision to hold him out of games despite the end of the suspension supports their statements on the matter.

The Mets activated Smoker (elbow) from the 10-day disabled list Thursday.

The left-hander will assume a decent setup role, considering he's punched out 36 in 29 frames. The 7.45 ERA hides Smoker's decent skills that should keep him in at least moderate-leverage situations.

Ramirez was designated for assignment by the Mets on Thursday.

New York deemed the right-hander expendable upon activating southpaw Josh Smoker (elbow). Ramirez carries a 7.18 ERA on the year with 44 strikeouts and 21 walks in 31.1 innings and could catch on with another club if he isn't outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas.

The Diamondbacks placed Walker on the paternity list Thursday.

The right-hander was scratched from Thursday's start but could return sometime over the weekend. Walker will be replaced by Patrick Corbin for the Thursday assignment.