MLB Player News

Johnson (elbow) allowed one earned run on two hits and struck out one batter in a one-inning rehab appearance for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

Johnson threw 17 pitches (13 strikes) in the first appearance of his rehab assignment. If the Reds are satisfied with the right-hander's condition following Friday's appearance, he could return from the 15-day injured list later this weekend.

Montgomery (2-2) was tagged with the loss and his second blown save of the season Friday against the Rockies. He allowed two runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning, striking out one.

Montgomery entered the game with the Pirates holding a 3-2 lead and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. He retired TJ Rumfield with a groundout, but back-to-back singles from Tyler Freeman and Cole Carrigg set up Braxton Fulford, who gave the Rockies the lead with the game-winning hit -- a two-run double on a line drive to center. Montgomery then struck out Ezequiel Tovar, but the damage was already done. The 26-year-old southpaw has been inconsistent of late. He was on a run of four consecutive scoreless outings before this game, but he's also given up multiple runs in three of his last seven appearances. He has a 7.94 ERA and 2.29 WHIP across six outings (5.2 innings) since the beginning of June.

De La Cruz (hamstring) went 2-for-2 with a walk and a home run for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

De La Cruz kicked off a rehab assignment Friday, and as planned, played five innings at shortstop. The next step, according to Brent Maguire of MLB.com, is a full game Saturday as the designated hitter followed by nine innings at shortstop Sunday. De La Cruz could rejoin the Reds at some point next week.

Lowder (3-4) took the loss Friday as the Reds were blanked 5-0 by the Yankees, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.

While the right-hander didn't get any help from his offense, Lowder also gave up plenty of loud contact. Half the hits off him went for extra bases, including second-inning homers by Jazz Chisholm and Ben Rice that accounted for all the damage off Lowder. He's also issued multiple free passes in five straight starts, stumbling to a 7.85 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and 17:18 K:BB in 18.1 innings over that stretch. With Hunter Greene (elbow) having begun a rehab assignment, the clock is likely ticking on Lowder's time in the big-league rotation. He'll look to right the ship in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Brewers.

Barrosa entered Friday's game as a pinch runner and finished out Arizona's 9-5 win over the Twins in center field. He went 0-for-1 in his lone plate appearance.

Barrosa, who initially entered as a pinch runner for left fielder Lourdes Gurriel in the seventh inning, stayed in the game to play center field while Jordan Lawlar moved to left. An inning later, Lawlar was removed from the game due to a hamstring injury and potentially faces a second stint on the IL this season. If Lawlar misses time, either Barrosa or Tommy Troy could play center field.

Jordan went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Friday's loss to the Royals.

Jordan came through in the top of the ninth inning with a two-run single that scored Masyn Winn and Nelson Velazquez, but St. Louis came up short of completing the comeback. Jordan made his big-league debut June 12 against the Twins and has provided an offensive boost to the Cardinals' lineup while hitting safely in six of eight games so far. He has a home run, two doubles, a triple, seven RBI and five runs scored in 31 plate appearances so far.

Troy entered Friday's game as a pinch runner after Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) was removed in the eighth inning. The former did not register a plate appearance but scored a run and finished Arizona's 9-5 win over Minnesota in left field.

Lawlar, who has been the primary center fielder since coming off the injured list earlier this month, will undergo imaging Saturday and could end up on the IL again, per Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. Troy has played only in left field since being called up to Arizona but has center-field experience in the minors. If Lawlar misses time, Troy or Jorge Barrosa could defend center field.

McGreevy didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Royals. He gave up five runs on eight hits and a walk across five innings, striking out two.

McGreevy tossed 60 of his 95 pitches for strikes, and as has been the trend all season long, he relied on his defense and his ability to induce weak contact to retire hitters. McGreevy has two or fewer strikeouts in four of his last six outings, going 0-4 with a 5.34 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 4.8 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 and 1.7 HR/9 over that stretch. It's becoming difficult to trust him in fantasy, but he's not in danger of losing his rotation spot and should make his next start at home against the Diamondbacks.

Suzuki went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 16-2 win over the Blue Jays.

Suzuki was one of three Chicago players with three hits as the Cubs rolled to the easy win. The outfielder is in a nice groove lately with three straight multi-hit efforts, and he's slashing .353/.441/.627 in 16 games this month with three home runs, 10 runs scored and 12 RBI. Suzuki should continue to produce at a high level as a key cog in Chicago's offensive attack.

Lawlar will undergo an MRI on Saturday after suffering a right hamstring strain in Friday's win over the Twins, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Lawlar just returned from a wrist injury last week and is now facing the possibility of another IL stint depending on the severity of the strain. When asked whether he's optimistic about what the MRI will show, Lawlar said, "I'll wait for the imaging and then let you know." Jorge Barrosa has struggled at the plate with a .549 OPS this season, but he has been a plus player defensively for Arizona and would likely step in as the top center fielder should Lawlar have to miss more than a few days.