MLB Player News

Burleson is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Cincinnati.

It marks four games in a row that Burleson has been out of the lineup, with three of them coming against right-handed pitchers. The Cardinals are again going with Nolan Gorman at designated hitter and in the fifth spot in the batting order for Monday's series opener.

Tong struck out 10 and allowed one hit and one walk over four scoreless innings for Double-A Binghamton on Sunday.

The 21-year-old righty is racking up Ks in the Eastern League, and his control might be taking a step forward as well. After issuing five passes in his first start of the season, Tong has posted a 25:6 K:BB over his last three starts (13.1 innings). He could rise up prospect lists quickly if he continues to dominate and develops a little more efficiency.

Reds manager Terry Francona said that Encarnacion-Strand (back) hit off a tee Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

It's the next step in the progression for Encarnacion-Strand, who was given an epidural last week as he works his way back from low-back inflammation. The infielder has several items he still needs to check off the list before a timetable for his return becomes clearer.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday that it was a groin injury that forced Miley (elbow) from his rehab start Sunday at High-A Dayton, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Francona added that Miley could be back on the mound this week, so it seems the setback is a minor one. Miley is on a minor-league contract with Cincinnati as he works his way back from a hybrid UCL repair on his left elbow.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday that Stephenson (oblique) will be re-evaluated at the end of this week, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

That typically means a player will be activated at that time as long as long as they're performing and feeling well in their rehab games. Stephenson has been out all season with a strained left oblique and is 3-for-17 with one home run in his first five rehab contests with Triple-A Louisville. He caught a full nine innings Sunday, which is the first time he's done so since joining Louisville.

The Cardinals designated Loutos for assignment Monday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder/outfielder Jose Barrero, who was called up from Triple-A Memphis. Loutos made three scoreless appearances for the Cardinals last season and has allowed three runs with a 6:2 K:BB over eight innings with Memphis in 2025. The 26-year-old could draw some interest via trade or waivers from a team seeking relief depth.

The Cardinals optioned Saggese to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

Saggese has slashed .341/.364/.512 in 14 games this season at the major-league level, but his playing time has dipped since Masyn Winn returned from the injured list last week. Jose Barrero is grabbing Saggese's roster spot while the latter returns to Memphis where he can play every day.

The Cardinals selected Barrero's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

He'll join the 26-man active roster as a replacement for Thomas Saggese, who was optioned to Memphis. After he was unable to win a spot on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster as a utility player, Barrero earned his promotion to the big leagues by slashing .299/.396/.517 with four home runs and four stolen bases over 23 games at Triple-A. The right-handed hitting Barrero has seen most of his professional action in the infield but could end up serving as a short-side platoon mate for Victor Scott in center field.

Torrens is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.

Now on the bench for the fourth time in five games, Torrens is expected to see light playing time moving forward after top backstop Francisco Alvarez returned from the 10-day injured list last week to make his season debut. Torrens proved to be an adequate replacement for Alvarez behind the dish, as he enters Monday's contest with a .258/.292/.419 slash line over his 65 plate appearances on the season.

Ritchie has posted a 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB through 21 innings over four starts for High-A Rome.

The 21-year-old right-hander is looking to stay healthy this year after making a late-season return from Tommy John surgery in 2024. Ritchie's strikeout rate is down in the early going -- he fanned 48 over 42.1 innings between Single-A and High-A last year -- but he built up to 6.2 innings in his most recent outing April 22, allowing two runs on three hits with a 5:0 K:BB. Atlanta won't rush Ritchie up the ladder, but a promotion to Double-A in the second half wouldn't be surprising if he continues to have success in the South Atlantic League.