MLB Player News

The Reds recalled Mey from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Mey has offered a mixed bag at Louisville this season, posting a 4.91 ERA and 1.46 WHIP but also a 14:3 K:BB over 11 innings. The hard thrower might only be with the big club for a few days while Graham Ashcraft is on the bereavement list.

Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.

After missing a couple of games over the weekend due to a back issue, Smith returned to action and started behind the plate in the first two games of the series with Miami, going 3-for-9 with an RBI between the contests. Smith isn't believed to have suffered any setbacks coming out of either of those games, so he's presumably just getting a breather for Wednesday's matinee. Dalton Rushing will draw the start at catcher in the series finale.

The Reds placed Ashcraft on the bereavement list Wednesday.

By rule, Ashcraft will be away from the team for at least three and as many as seven games. Luis Mey was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to replace Ashcraft in the bullpen.

Perdomo (ankle) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game in Milwaukee.

Perdomo missed the previous two contests with a left ankle sprain, but he's feeling well enough to play Wednesday. The 26-year-old is sporting a .250/.350/.393 batting line with one home run and six stolen bases in his first 25 contests this season.

Kikuchi was lifted from his start Wednesday against the White Sox prior to the bottom of the third inning due to left shoulder tightness. He struck out a batter and allowed two hits and one walk over two scoreless frames before departing.

After noticing a minor velocity dip in the second inning, Kikuchi came back out for the third but didn't throw a pitch. He appeared to experience some discomfort while warming up, and then checked out of the game after a brief visit with a trainer. Mitch Farris entered the game in place of Kikuchi and will likely be tasked with covering multiple frames out of the bullpen. The Angels will likely send Kikuchi in for further testing to glean more information regarding the extent of the injury.

Betts said Wednesday that he recently resumed hitting in the batting cage after he was briefly shut down from the activity when he experienced soreness in his right oblique while taking batting practice on the field, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Betts feels that he's "turned a corner," so the setback seems to have been a minor one. He hopes to try taking batting practice on the field again soon. Betts had been aiming to begin a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend, but that could be delayed a bit. The 33-year-old has been sidelined since early April.

Morel is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

After being reinstated from the 10-day injured list Monday, Morel ended up making just one start during the Marlins' three-game series in Los Angeles. Though he had appeared to secure the everyday gig at first base coming out of spring training before straining his left oblique right before the Marlins' Opening Day game, Morel looks like he'll have to settle for a part-time role now that he's healthy again. Connor Norby has served as the Marlins' primary first baseman this season amid Morel's extended absence and has provided an adequate .722 OPS over 105 plate appearances.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that Pasquantino is considered day-to-day after exiting Tuesday's game versus the Athletics with low-back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Pasquantino revealed that his back has bothered him for "a while," as he's been receiving regular treatment and using a heating/massage back pad in the dugout. He was "just having a hard time getting it loose" Tuesday, forcing his removal in the sixth inning. The Royals will see how Pasquantino is feeling Wednesday before determining his availability for the second game of the series. If Pasquantino is unable to play, the Royals could use Salvador Perez or Nick Loftin at first base.

Ramirez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Ramirez will be rested for the day game after he started behind the plate in the first two contests of the series in Los Angeles. Liam Hicks will handle catching duties Wednesday, and Kyle Stowers will serve as Miami's designated hitter.

Hicks (illness) will start at catcher and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Hicks ended up being scratched from the lineup ahead of Tuesday's 2-1 win after falling ill, but he made enough progress overnight to rejoin the starting nine for the series finale. The second-year player has been one of the more productive bats in the Miami lineup this season, producing a 143 wRC+ while batting .311 with six home runs, one stolen base, 27 RBI and 17 runs in 28 games.