MLB Player News

Milwaukee optioned Rea to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.

The 33-year-old right-hander will lose his rotation spot to Adrian Houser (elbow), who was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Thursday's series finale against the Marlins. Rea took a loss as the bulk pitcher Wednesday versus Miami and holds a 4.89 ERA in 114 major-league innings this season.

Houser (elbow) was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Thursday versus the Marlins.

Houser is back in the Milwaukee rotation after missing a couple of weeks due to swelling in his right elbow. He had posted a 5.77 ERA over his last 39 innings (eight starts) prior to the IL stint and might be on a limited pitch count in his return outing Thursday against Miami after skipping a minor-league rehab assignment.

Spiers' contract was selected from Double-A Chattanooga on Thursday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Spiers has been roughed up for seven runs over seven innings in two starts for the Reds this season. He's expected to work out of the bullpen during his upcoming stint with the Reds and should offer the Cincinnati relief corps some length.

Phillips was returned to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Phillips made two spot starts during his time with the Reds, striking out 10 over 8.2 innings but giving up eight earned runs on 10 hits and six walks. Because he was up with the Reds as a replacement for one of their pitchers that recently landed on the COVID-19-related injured list, the rookie right-hander can rejoin the big club at any time. He'll be a candidate to draw another start next week while the Reds are still without a fifth member of the rotation with Graham Ashcraft (toe) on the 15-day IL.

Lively (illness) was activated from the COVID-19-related injured list Thursday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Per Wittenmyer, Lively is slated for bulk-relief duty Thursday in Detroit once opening pitcher Derek Law exits the contest, likely after one or two innings. Before landing on the COVID-19-related IL, Lively hadn't pitched since Aug. 26, when he covered 5.2 innings. Lively didn't go out on a minor-league rehab assignment while he was on the IL, so deploying him behind an opener will allow the Reds to better manage his workload in his return to the active roster.

Harrison did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk over four innings against the Guardians. He struck out three.

It was a disastrous first inning for Harrison as the lefty surrendered a walk to open the frame, followed by a two-run homer to Jose Ramirez in the next at-bat. Another two runs would come across for Cleveland in the inning, though they weren't charged to Harrison on account of a fielding error by Casey Schmitt. The rookie hurler has now allowed at least three earned runs in each of his last three starts, yielding six home runs and 18 hits over that stretch. He currently holds a 7.36 ERA this month after maintaining a 1.86 ERA through two August starts.

Allen did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and three walks over five innings against the Giants while striking out five.

Allen got himself in a jam right out of the gate, surrendering back-to-back singles to open the first inning, which would eventually lead to one run coming across for San Francisco. However, the rookie left-hander allowed just two hits and two walks from the second inning on and was in line for his eighth win prior to the Giants' late comeback. Allen has now pitched five innings of one-run ball in back-to-back starts, lowering his season ERA to 3.60. On the downside, he's also issued multiple walks in each of those starts and in seven of his last nine outings overall.

Lively (COVID-19) is expected to be activated and pitch bulk innings Thursday against the Tigers, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lively has not thrown since Aug. 26, when he went 5.2 innings. Reliever Derek Law, one of two active relievers not used Wednesday, will open for the Reds.

Priester (3-2) allowed four earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four across four innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Nationals.

He was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday and followed opener Colin Selby. Priester worked four effective innings, during which the only hit he allowed was a solo home run. However, things fell apart when he stayed for his fifth frame and allowed a three-run home run. The outing was encouraging from the perspective that Priester induced nine swinging strikes on 62 total pitches and was in the zone consistently, but he's now allowed at least four earned runs in all but one of his seven big-league appearances.

Blach (3-1) earned the win Wednesday, allowing three runs on nine hits and one walk over five innings against the Cubs. He struck out four.

Blach found himself in a jam on multiple occasions Wednesday, surrendering back-to-back hits to open both the first and third innings, which would lead to three runs coming across for Chicago. The lefty matched his season high with nine hits allowed on the afternoon, but he still managed to make it through five frames for the fourth consecutive start while securing his third win of the year. Blach has allowed at least three runs in three straight outings, though he's still 2-0 over that stretch despite a 6.75 ERA.