MLB Player News

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.

Caglianone went 2-for-4 with a home run, an additional RBI and an additional run scored in Friday's win over the Cardinals.

Caglianone has gone yard in back-to-back games for the first time this season, and it seems he's finally rediscovering his power stroke. He didn't launch his first homer of the season until April 20, but he has hit five of his 10 long balls since the beginning of June, slashing .365/.444/.651 with 13 RBI, 14 runs scored, two steals and a 7:19 BB:K in 17 games this month.

Jordan went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Friday's loss to the Royals.

Jordan came through in the top of the ninth inning with a two-run single that scored Masyn Winn and Nelson Velazquez, but St. Louis came up short of completing the comeback. Jordan made his big-league debut June 12 against the Twins and has provided an offensive boost to the Cardinals' lineup while hitting safely in six of eight games so far. He has a home run, two doubles, a triple, seven RBI and five runs scored in 31 plate appearances so far.

Jansen tossed a scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout to earn the save in Friday's 4-3 win over the White Sox.

Jansen needed only 10 pitches to put Chicago down in order and secure his eighth save of the season in 12 chances. The veteran righty has now made two scoreless appearances with three strikeouts since returning from a brief stint on the injured list due to right pelvic inflammation. It looks like the reset helped get Jansen back on track after a rough patch earlier in the year, and he should remain locked in as Detroit's closer.

Troy entered Friday's game as a pinch runner after Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) was removed in the eighth inning. The former did not register a plate appearance but scored a run and finished Arizona's 9-5 win over Minnesota in left field.

Lawlar, who has been the primary center fielder since coming off the injured list earlier this month, will undergo imaging Saturday and could end up on the IL again, per Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. Troy has played only in left field since being called up to Arizona but has center-field experience in the minors. If Lawlar misses time, Troy or Jorge Barrosa could defend center field.