MLB Player News

Littell will be used in bulk relief Tuesday against the Phillies, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

He's fared better this season as a bulk reliever (3.20 ERA) than traditional starter (6.31 ERA). The right-handed Littell will be preceded Tuesday by left-handed opener PJ Poulin.

Farmer (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Columbus on Tuesday.

Farmer went down a little over a month ago with a right forearm strain but has progressed enough to try things out in a game setting. Interestingly, Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Monday that Farmer is "gonna catch a lot" on his rehab assignment, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The 35-year-old Farmer has not seen any action at catcher since 2019, and it's unlikely Atlanta would use him behind the plate on a regular basis even if Drake Baldwin gets hurt.

McLain started at shortstop and went 0-for-3 in Monday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to Milwaukee.

McLain's started 17 of the last 19 games while operating as the primary fill-in for the injured Elly De La Cruz (hamstring), who is expected to be activated from the injured list Tuesday. De La Cruz's return should put an end to McLain's time as a regular presence in the starting nine. The offensive production he generated during the first week of his residency at shortstop (1.319 OPS over seven games) suggested McLain was moving past a season-opening slump, but he's slipped back since, going 5-for-33 (.152) with a .475 OPS and zero RBI over the last 11 contests.

Santillan (1-4) was the losing pitcher Monday, allowing two runs (one earned) while walking one in a 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Brewers.

Santillan, who entered a scoreless tie in the 10th inning, gave up runs for the first time in eight outings. Monday's results aside, he appears to have settled in as the Reds fill-in closer until Emilio Pagan (hamstring) returns, which could happen within a week. Pagan threw a second live batting-practice/simulated-game session Monday and is expected to begin a brief rehab assignment Thursday.

Troy started in left field and went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 3-2 loss to St. Louis.

Troy crushed a fastball 444 feet to dead center field in the seventh inning, his third homer in 25 games. This was the third consecutive start in left field for Troy, who is in line for a regular role in starting lineups and may eventually see time in center field following the injury to Jordan Lawlar (hamstring). Lourdes Gurriel, who normally starts in left field and recently returned from a stint on the injured list due to a hamstring issue, operated as the DH for the second time in the last three contests.

Tawa started in center field and went 1-for-3 with a double in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Cardinals.

Tawa moved into the starting lineup for the first time since being recalled from Triple-A Reno over the weekend. He defended center field, which has become a hole following the injury to Jordan Lawlar (hamstring). Jorge Barrosa started there in the first two games without Lawlar on Saturday and Sunday.

McCarthy went 1-for-4 with a three-run triple in Monday's 3-2 win over Boston.

McCarthy's lone hit was the biggest of the game for Colorado, as he delivered a walk-off triple in the ninth inning with the bases loaded. The 28-year-old punched an Aroldis Chapman fastball to the opposite field that Jarren Duran struggled to field cleanly, allowing all three runners to score. McCarthy has been swinging a hot bat of late, hitting safely in each of his past seven appearances while going 11-for-30 (.367) with four extra-base hits, four RBI and five runs scored. In his first season with the Rockies, the outfielder has put together some of the best numbers of his career, slashing .294/.335/.471 with 22 extra-base hits (five homers), 31 RBI, 27 runs scored and 11 stolen bases across 64 games.

Feltner did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over six innings against the Red Sox. He struck out two.

Feltner was a bit wild, surrendering a season-high four walks, but he limited the damage to just two runs in the sixth inning. The elevated walk totals and lack of strikeout stuff remain concerns for the right-hander, but there's no denying he has yielded improved results since returning from right ulnar nerve inflammation at the end of May, compiling a 3.67 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 27 innings over his past five starts. Feltner will carry a 2-2 record with a 4.79 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 35:20 K:BB across 47 innings (10 starts) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Sunday against the Twins.

O'Brien picked up the save in Monday's 3-2 victory over the Diamondbacks. He did not record a strikeout during a perfect ninth inning.

O'Brien made quick work of the Diamondbacks, retiring the side to secure the victory. The right-hander has had an uneven June, allowing runs in three of eight appearances while recording more walks (seven) than strikeouts (six) across eight innings. Overall, the 31-year-old owns a 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 33:11 K:BB while converting 19 of 23 save opportunities. Among National League relievers, only Mason Miller (21) has more saves than O'Brien this season.

Kelly (5-7) took the loss Monday, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings against St. Louis. He struck out two.

Kelly ran into some trouble in the third and fourth innings but was able to mitigate the damage fairly well and record a quality start, though a lack of offense from Arizona saddled the 37-year-old with the loss. The right-hander has had spurts of success but has mostly struggled in 2026, posting a 5.71 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 44:31 K:BB across 75.2 innings (13 starts). Having lost each of his four most recent starts, Kelly will look to reverse that trend in his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Saturday at Tampa Bay.