MLB Player News

The Reds recalled Banfield from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

The 26-year-old was added to the 40-man roster in mid-June and will now get his first look of 2026 at the major-league level. Banfield went 1-for-10 with six strikeouts in his first big-league action last season and has posted a .725 OPS with 11 homers in 79 contests at Louisville this year.

Gray (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg on Tuesday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

Gray will be making his first appearance in a game since spring training and his first regular-season action since he made three rehab starts late in the 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace in July 2024. The righty suffered a flexor strain in March and opened the season on the 60-day injured list, but he's finally been cleared to pitch in games again. Gray could make some starts for the Nationals in September if he can avoid further setbacks as he gets stretched out in the minors.

The Reds optioned Marte to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Marte is just 4-for-30 with a 1:10 BB:K in August to drop his season batting line to .189/.229/.321. With Marte back in the minors, the Reds are likely to give Hector Rodriguez regular reps in right field.

Phillips is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Cade Gibson in Tuesday's game in Philadelphia, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Phillips has started in each of his last 12 appearances, but he hasn't exceeded five innings in any of the last eight outings and owns a 4.91 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over that stretch. The Marlins will look to see if they can coax better results from Phillips by using him behind an opener, and the arrangement should also boost the right-hander's chances of qualifying for a win compared to if he was used as a traditional starter.

Marte (personal) is returning to Arizona on Tuesday to undergo an MRI on his left knee, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

The 32-year-old was placed on the restricted list Monday and didn't report to Fenway Park for the series opener against the Red Sox due to a personal matter, but he's apparently also dealing with a knee injury. Marte was considered day-to-day while tending to the personal issue, but a longer absence could be in store depending on what the MRI reveals. Marte previously missed out on a start Saturday against Atlanta due to left knee soreness before returning to the lineup a day later.

Atlanta recalled Smith-Shawver from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Per Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Smith-Shawver will start Wednesday's game against the Twins, giving the regular members of Atlanta's rotation extra rest. It's unclear what the plan is for Smith-Shawver's role beyond that, but it could depend on how he fares Wednesday. Smith-Shawver has looked sharp after coming back from Tommy John surgery, and he allowed just two runs with a 13:4 K:BB over 11 innings in his last two outings with Gwinnett.

Lavender recorded a hold in Monday's win over the Padres, retiring both batters he faced.

The rookie picked up the final two outs of the eighth inning, getting Jackson Merrill to fly out and Luis Campusano to pop out. Lavender is quickly establishing himself as the top lefty in the Mets' bullpen following the trades of A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley -- through his first six big-league appearances since being promoted in early August, Lavender has five holds and has yet to allow a run with a 0.56 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB in 5.1 innings.

The Reds optioned McCambley to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

McCambley was the 27th man on the roster for Monday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He logged a scoreless frame in the second game and will now head back to his team's top minor-league affiliate.

Lopez went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI in Monday's loss to the Phillies.

The shortstop remains mired in a 33-game homer drought, and Lopez's overall production is beginning to sag as well. Through 67 plate appearances in August, he's managed a .222/.254/.254 slash line with two doubles, two steals, four RBI and nine runs in 15 contests.

The Cardinals optioned Mathews to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.

Mathews held the Reds to one run over four innings in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Reds. There's not currently room for the left-hander in the Cardinals' rotation, so he'll return to Memphis for now until another opportunity arises.