MLB Player News

The Nationals recalled Ribalta from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

Ribalta has absorbed the roster spot vacated by Cole Henry (back), who was placed on the 15-day injured ilst. The 27-year-old holds a 5.48 ERA and 21:15 K:BB across 21.1 innings out of the Nationals bullpen in 2025.

Means (elbow) allowed six earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.

Means navigated minimal traffic over two scoreless innings to begin the game but ran into trouble in the third, when he allowed two solo home runs. His struggles continued into the fourth inning, when he walked the bases loaded before giving up a two-run double. Means then balked in the go-ahead run. The left-hander is now six starts into his rehab assignment, and he's yet to find much success since shifting his assignment to Triple-A in late August, producing a 9.00 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 11:10 K:BB in 15 innings over four outings with Columbus. While Means has built his pitch count up to 82 and appears to be ready from a workload standpoint to take on a traditional starting role, his poor form at Triple-A could make the Guardians reluctant to activate him from the 60-day injured list during the upcoming week. The Guardians will have a stretch of six games in five days due to a doubleheader Saturday in Minnesota, but since the team is already running with a six-man rotation, Means may not be called upon to make a spot start for the big club.

The Nationals placed Henry on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a back strain.

The injury will end Henry's season, but he should be fully recovered from the back issue early in the offseason. Henry became a high-leverage reliever for the Nationals this season, though that had more to do with the team's lack of other options rather than his performance. He finished with a 4.27 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 52:32 K:BB over 52.2 innings, picking up two saves and 10 holds along the way.

Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Rays.

Happ took Adrian Houser deep in the sixth inning for his 22nd home run of the season. The veteran outfielder is approaching his career high of 25 long balls, which he recorded back in 2021 and then matched last year. Happ has gone deep five times in his last 13 games, and with the Cubs set to play 13 more contests during the regular season, he has a chance to set a new career best in homers if he keeps up his recent pace and stays in the lineup most days.

Diaz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday against the Cubs.

Diaz led off the game with a solo home run, his second long ball in his last four games. He now has career-best marks in both home runs (24) and RBI (79), and he's also pacing for a career-high number of plate appearances. Diaz is closing the season strong, as he's hit .362 with two home runs, five RBI and 10 runs scored in 12 games across September.

Tarnok (ankle) struck out one in a perfect inning in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday.

Tarnok has missed most of September with a left ankle sprain but was cleared to return to game action over the weekend. He will be eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list Thursday, and the righty has a good chance to return that day.

Stewart started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Athletics.

Stewart launched his third homer in 10 games since being called up when rosters expanded in September. He's started four of the last five games and six of the last seven at first base, as the prospect has nudged Spencer Steer out of the way. The Reds, who were swept by the A's, are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, but manager Terry Francona appears to be juggling two missions -- develop young talent while not abandoning the quest for the postseason.

Tovar went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored Sunday against the Padres.

Tovar entered Sunday's game hitless in his last six starts -- all of which came on the road -- while also striking out 12 times across 19 at-bats in that span. He ended that stretch with a single in the sixth inning and then delivered an RBI double one frame later. Tovar is still hitting .250 since Sept. 1 and now has three RBI and five runs scored with a stolen base in that 13-game span.

Benson started in left field and went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Athletics.

Benson upped Cincinnati's lead to 3-0 with his second-inning home run. He's started four of the last five contests and gone deep three times during that stretch. The bump in playing time came out of nowhere for Benson, who rode the bench for the first 20 games after being called up in mid-August.

Lowder (oblique/forearm) will make his next rehab start Friday for Triple-A Louisville, MLB.com reports.

Lowder began a rehab assignment Saturday, throwing 34 pitches over two innings and allowing one run for Louisville. Per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Reds manager Terry Francona has been non-committal about Lowder returning from the 60-day injured list before the end of the regular season to aid the team in its bid for a wild-card spot, but that could change if he performs well in his upcoming rehab start. Even if he comes off the IL for the final week of the season, Lowder would likely be deployed out of the bullpen.