MLB Player News

Rice went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 5-0 win over the Reds.

The 27-year-old slugger took Rhett Lowder deep in the second inning to give the Yankees a 4-0 lead. Rice has hit safely in six straight games, launching three homers during that span, and the hot streak has boosted his slash line on the season to .294/.389/.616 with 21 long balls, 52 RBI, 54 runs and two steals in 69 contests.

Chisholm went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 5-0 win over the Reds.

The star infielder looked none the worse for wear despite leaving Thursday's game early after fouling a ball off his groin in the fourth inning. Chisholm kicked the Yankees' offense into gear by leading off the bottom of the second frame with his 11th homer of the year, and he stole his 21st bag of the season in the eighth after drawing a one-out walk. Friday's effort was encouraging, but Chisholm hasn't had a multi-hit performance since May 29, and through 15 games in June he's batting just .188 (9-for-48) -- albeit with five homers, seven steals, 11 RBI and 14 runs.

Chandler didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Rockies after tossing six innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and walking two while striking out one.

Chandler recorded a quality start for the first time since April 17, and this was just the second time all season that he's pitched six complete frames. He seems to be trending in the right direction. After posting a 4.70 ERA across five outings and 23 innings in May, Chandler has given up two earned runs in each of his last three starts and owns a 4.09 ERA in four starts (22 innings) in June. He's slated to make his next start at home against the Mariners.

Schlittler (8-3) picked up the win Friday, allowing four hits over six scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory over the Reds. He struck out 13 without walking a batter.

Only one Cincinnati runner even got past second base against the 25-year-old right-hander, who set a new career high in strikeouts while reeling off his second straight quality start and his 10th of the season. Schlittler is heading toward the second half of the season as one of the clear favorites for the AL Cy Young Award, as he leads the Junior Circuit in ERA (1.71) and is second in WHIP (0.89) and strikeouts (109) while being tied with Michael Wacha for the lead in QS. Schlittler will look to stay locked in for his next outing, which is set to come on the road next week in Detroit in a potential marquee matchup against the reigning two-time Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal.

Johnson (elbow) allowed one earned run on two hits and struck out one batter in a one-inning rehab appearance for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

Johnson threw 17 pitches (13 strikes) in the first appearance of his rehab assignment. If the Reds are satisfied with the right-hander's condition following Friday's appearance, he could return from the 15-day injured list later this weekend.

Montgomery (2-2) was tagged with the loss and his second blown save of the season Friday against the Rockies. He allowed two runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning, striking out one.

Montgomery entered the game with the Pirates holding a 3-2 lead and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. He retired TJ Rumfield with a groundout, but back-to-back singles from Tyler Freeman and Cole Carrigg set up Braxton Fulford, who gave the Rockies the lead with the game-winning hit -- a two-run double on a line drive to center. Montgomery then struck out Ezequiel Tovar, but the damage was already done. The 26-year-old southpaw has been inconsistent of late. He was on a run of four consecutive scoreless outings before this game, but he's also given up multiple runs in three of his last seven appearances. He has a 7.94 ERA and 2.29 WHIP across six outings (5.2 innings) since the beginning of June.

De La Cruz (hamstring) went 2-for-2 with a walk and a home run for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

De La Cruz kicked off a rehab assignment Friday, and as planned, played five innings at shortstop. The next step, according to Brent Maguire of MLB.com, is a full game Saturday as the designated hitter followed by nine innings at shortstop Sunday. De La Cruz could rejoin the Reds at some point next week.

Lowder (3-4) took the loss Friday as the Reds were blanked 5-0 by the Yankees, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.

While the right-hander didn't get any help from his offense, Lowder also gave up plenty of loud contact. Half the hits off him went for extra bases, including second-inning homers by Jazz Chisholm and Ben Rice that accounted for all the damage off Lowder. He's also issued multiple free passes in five straight starts, stumbling to a 7.85 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and 17:18 K:BB in 18.1 innings over that stretch. With Hunter Greene (elbow) having begun a rehab assignment, the clock is likely ticking on Lowder's time in the big-league rotation. He'll look to right the ship in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Brewers.

Lugo (3-4) earned the win Friday against the Cardinals after allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks across six innings. He didn't record a single strikeout.

Lugo failed to record a strikeout for the first time this season, but he still posted a quality start in his return to the rotation after he was on the shelf for the past week due to a concussion. Lugo has been pitching well of late, allowing three runs or fewer in five of his last six appearances. Over that stretch, he has a 3.58 ERA and 1.22 WHIP despite a below-average 5.5 K/9. Lugo is poised to make his next start on the road against Tampa Bay.

Barrosa entered Friday's game as a pinch runner and finished out Arizona's 9-5 win over the Twins in center field. He went 0-for-1 in his lone plate appearance.

Barrosa, who initially entered as a pinch runner for left fielder Lourdes Gurriel in the seventh inning, stayed in the game to play center field while Jordan Lawlar moved to left. An inning later, Lawlar was removed from the game due to a hamstring injury and potentially faces a second stint on the IL this season. If Lawlar misses time, either Barrosa or Tommy Troy could play center field.