MLB Player News

The Pirates optioned Sisk to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Acquired from the Royals at the trade deadline, Sisk initially reported to Indianapolis before the Pirates recalled him last Friday. The team wasted no time putting Sisk to work, as he made relief appearances four of the past five days and was charged with three earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out four across 3.1 innings. He'll head back to the minors and give up his spot on the 26-man active roster to Johan Oviedo, who was recalled ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Blue Jays.

The Pirates recalled Oviedo from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Oviedo is set to rejoin the Pirates rotation with a start Wednesday against the Blue Jays. The right-hander was tagged for two runs over just one inning in a start earlier this month for Pittsburgh but had permitted four runs (three earned) with a 15:3 K:BB across 8.2 frames in his last two outings with Indianapolis.

The Reds placed Stephenson on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a fractured left thumb.

Cincinnati had previously labeled the injury that had kept Stephenson from playing in the last four games as a sore thumb, but X-rays evidently revealed that the backstop sustained structural damage to the finger. The team hasn't provided word on the severity of the fracture nor indicated whether Stephenson will require surgery, so his timeline for a return is unclear at the moment. Cincinnati called up Will Banfield from Triple-A Louisville to provide the team with another option behind the plate, but Jose Trevino is expected to receive the bulk of the starts at catcher while Stephenson is on the shelf.

The Reds selected Banfield's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Banfield will serve as the backup catcher behind Jose Trevino while Tyler Stephenson (thumb) is on the shelf. The 25-year-old Banfield has slashed .220/.277/.304 with two home runs this season with Louisville and will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game.

The Diamondbacks recalled Jarvis from Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.

Jarvis has made eight appearances for Arizona this season, allowing seven runs with a 13:7 K:BB over 14.1 innings. He's pitched exclusively as a starter at Reno, so Jarvis will offer some length out of the big-league bullpen.

The Diamondbacks optioned Hoffmann to Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.

Hoffmann was unscored upon in his first three appearances for the Diamondbacks but was touched up for a total of five runs across his last three outings. His spot on the 26-man active roster and in the bullpen will be absorbed by Bryce Jarvis, who was recalled from Reno.

Seymour surrendered one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out three across three innings in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Padres.

Seymour worked in long relief once again, logging three innings for the fourth time in nine appearances this season. The right-hander threw 33 of his 54 pitches for strikes and recorded at least three strikeouts for the third time. He owns a 3.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB, allowing six home runs in 20.2 innings.

Bivens allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk across 1.1 innings in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Padres.

Bivens entered the game with one out and the bases loaded in the fourth. He walked one batter, forcing in a run, but prevented the Padres from doing further damage. The right-hander ran into trouble in the fifth, giving up two singles, a double and a run before being pulled with two outs and a runner on. The 31-year-old has appeared in 10 games since the All-Star break, posting a 6.89 ERA, 2.11 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB across 15.2 innings during that span.

The Pirates will select Chandler's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday and are expected to use him in a long-relief role, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Chandler's long-awaited arrival to the majors will finally occur, though it won't be in the role fantasy managers were hoping for. Alex Stumpf of MLB.com likens the Pirates' expected usage of Chandler down the stretch to how they've deployed Braxton Ashcraft, who pitched as a multi-inning reliever before moving into the rotation earlier this month. It will be difficult for Chandler to churn out fantasy value in such a role, unless his ascension to the rotation occurs much quicker than Ashcraft's. Chandler has had an up-and-down season with Indianapolis, collecting a 4.05 ERA and 121:53 K:BB over an even 100 innings. He holds a 7.79 ERA and 17:12 K:BB across 17.1 frames in his last four outings with the Pirates' top minor-league affiliate.

Arenado (shoulder) could be cleared to resume hitting as soon as Thursday or Friday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Arenado has been rehabbing his right shoulder strain at the Cardinals' spring training complex in Florida and said Tuesday that he's "making strides" in his recovery. The veteran third baseman does not appear close to returning, however, as he has yet to resume hitting or throwing. The former is expected to occur later this week, and the latter could happen shortly thereafter. It seems unlikely at this point that Arenado will be back before September.