MLB Player News

Ward is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Ward started the past four games after missing the previous five contests due to quadriceps soreness, and he'll check out of the starting nine Sunday to get some scheduled rest. Dominic Canzone is serving as the designated hitter while Victor Robles starts in right field.

The Reds recalled Johnson from Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.

Johnson will be up in the big leagues for the third time this season, restoring depth on the Reds' bench after Michael Toglia (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. During his previous two stints with the Reds, Johnson logged just 14 total plate appearances over 12 games. He'll likely be in line for limited playing time this time around too.

Leahy didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Phillies, allowing two hits and two walks over four scoreless innings. He struck out four.

Leahy appeared to be on a pitch count Sunday, as the Cardinals are looking to limit the right-hander's workload down the stretch. Coming into the day, Leahy had gone five or more innings in each of his previous six outings, posting a 1.91 ERA across 33 innings in that span. Overall, Leahy sports a 3.13 ERA across 25 starts (126.1 innings) this season with a 1.30 WHIP and 115:37 K:BB. He'll likely be limited to around 65 pitches again his next time out, currently scheduled to come at home against the Pirates.

The Reds placed Toglia (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Sunday.

Toglia will be deactivated after dislocating his right shoulder on a diving catch in Friday's 9-0 loss to the Diamondbacks. Per MLB.com, the Reds will send Toglia in for a follow-up MRI on Monday, and the team should soon have more clarity on the extent of the injury. After being called up from Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 11, Toglia slashed .115/.179/.192 with two runs and one RBI across 28 plate appearances in 10 games with Cincinnati.

Sanchez didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Cardinals, allowing four runs on nine hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out seven.

It's the first time in eight starts that Sanchez has allowed more than three runs. He'd gone 6-0 over his previous seven outings with a 2.18 ERA and 50 strikeouts across 41.1 innings. Overall, Sanchez's ERA sits at 2.62 across 27 starts (168.1 innings) this year with a 1.22 WHIP and 194:38 K:BB. The southpaw is currently lined up for a road matchup with the Angels his next time out.

The Diamondbacks placed Soroka on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right arm inflammation.

The right-hander struggled in his most recent start Saturday versus the Reds, surrendering six runs on six hits and three walks across 3.1 innings. Soroka missed nearly two months earlier this summer due to a glute injury, and an arm injury offers the possibility of a longer absence. He'll be eligible for reinstatement in early September but doesn't yet have an official timeline for his return.

Larnach is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.

Larnach will get a day off to clear his head after he went 0-for-13 with no walks and four strikeouts while starting in each of the Twins' previous four games. Alan Roden will spell Larnach in left field and will bat seventh.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.

Jeffers will get a rest Sunday after he started behind the plate for the first two contests of the series in San Diego. Victor Caratini will assume catching duties for the Twins in the finale.

O'Brien (3-5) took the loss Sunday against the Phillies, allowing six runs on five hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning.

O'Brien was called in for a non-save situation to protect a 4-0 lead in the ninth inning, but five straight Phillies reached safely with two outs, including a Kyle Schwarber two-run homer that stuck the Cardinals closer with a brutal loss. Coming into Sunday, the 31-year-old O'Brien had turned in 12 straight scoreless appearances, holding opponents to just two hits over 11.1 innings in that span. He's converted 33 saves this season while posting a 3.93 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 53:23 K:BB across 52.2 innings.

Thomas will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Pirates.

After Thomas was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday in response to Andy Pages (hand) landing on the injured list, manager Dave Roberts told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic that the left-handed-hitting Thomas would play regularly in center field versus right-handed pitching. True to Roberts' word, Thomas finds himself in the lineup for a second straight matchup versus a righty, after he went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's 4-3 win in his Los Angeles debut.