RHP J.J. Hoover was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. Hoover allowed a grand slam homer in the 15th inning on Tuesday, his franchise-record sixth career slam allowed. Hoover's ERA is 13.50 with nine homers allowed in 18 2/3 innings. "He's really had a rough season," manager Bryan Price said. "He's not broken. He still has the ability. But, he's a ways away from being the Hoover we know."

Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton left Wednesday's game in the first inning with a facial contusion after being struck in the face by a line drive.With two runners aboard in the first inning, Anthony Rizzo hit a liner to left-center field.Left fielder Adam Duvall and Hamilton converged on the ball and nearly collided. The ball caromed off Duvall's glove and struck Hamilton near his left eye while Rizzo raced home for an inside the park homer to stake the Cubs to an early lead.After being visited by trainers, Hamilton walked off the field through the outfield bullpen gate. Tyler Holt replaced him in center.Hamilton is in concussion protocol for the second time this season.--The Arizona Diamondbacks are uncertain about Zack Greinke's availability for his next scheduled start Monday after he left Tuesday's game with soreness in his left oblique muscle. "We'll see how he comes in (Friday), if he's able to throw," manager Chip Hale said. "If he's not able to throw, there's no way,"... [More]

RHP J.J. Hoover was recalled from Triple-A Louisville, where he had a 3.31 ERA in 11 relief appearances, and pitched two scoreless innings Tuesday against the Braves. He was 8-2 with a 2.94 ERA in 67 games for the Reds last season, but had a 14.34 ERA in 12 previous appearances for the team this year.

RHP J.J. Hoover was given optimal chance to turn things around at the major-league level. Now, he's headed to Triple-A. Hoover who owns a 14.34 ERA with six homers allowed in 10 2/3 innings, was optioned to Louisville on Saturday. "We came to the conclusion that this had to happen for him to get back to throwing the ball the way he's capable," said manager Bryan Price. "I have to see the finished product. Until I do, it's hard to put him in the game." Hoover began the season as the team's closer replacing Aroldis Chapman, who was traded during the offseason. Hoover had a disastrous 2014 season in which he lost 10 games, but rebounded to go 8-2 with a 2.94 ERA last season. "It's an unforgiving role any place you play," said Price. "He certainly has the physical ability. He showed that in 2012 and 2013 and 2015, and two of those were playoff years. I expect him to be back here."

RHP J.J. Hoover's troubles continued Thursday. Manager Bryan Price had planned on using Hoover as his closer this season, but Hoover has allowed 18 runs (17 earned) in 10 2/3 innings covering 12 appearances. He gave up two runs to the Brewers in the ninth inning. Following a lead-off home run by Chris Carter, the sixth home run allowed by Hoover, Kirk Nieuwenheis doubled and eventually scored on a ground out.

RHP J.J. Hoover pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings with a hit, two walks and a strikeout on Sunday. It was his first appearance since hinting to a reporter from the Cincinnati Enquirer that he was tipping his pitches to hitters. Hoover entered Sunday's action with a 19.50 ERA after giving up 13 earned runs and four homers in six innings of work.

RHP J.J. Hoover is running out of chances. His ERA ballooned to 19.50 on Friday when he allowed four earned runs and a homer in two-thirds of an inning. He already has lost his closer's role. Manager Bryan Price said he's not to the point where sending Hoover to the minors is an option, yet. "I'm not thinking about that," Price said. "He had a history. We're not thinking injury. We have a good line of communication. We're thinking he just doesn't have a good enough quality of pitch execution."

RHP J.J. Hoover was informed by manager Bryan Price that the team is going with a closer-by-committee approach. The struggling Hoover will get a share of the save opportunities. "I told J.J., 'I'm going to bring you in different situations and sometimes that might be the ninth and sometimes it might be the seventh or eighth,'" Price said following Wednesday's game. In 5 1/3 innings this season, Hoover has given up nine earned runs and three homers.

RHP J.J. Hoover was told by manager Bryan Price that he's going try a closer-by-committee approach, although the struggling Hoover will get a share of the save opportunities.

RHP J.J. Hoover wasn't available to pitch on Wednesday after working two straight games and three of the past four. He was hit hard again on Tuesday, allowing a two-run home run by Ben Paulsen in the ninth inning, prompting manager Bryan Price to mull a change at closer. "Pitch efficiency and command hasn't been great, and he has a track record of being really good," Price said. "He needs to get back on the beam as far as commanding inside the zone, staying ahead in the count and executing better pitches."

RHP J.J. Hoover picked up his first save of the year on Saturday despite giving up a two-run homer to Brandon Moss to go along with another hit and walk in the inning. Hoover's ERA after five games, covering 3 2/3 innings, is 17.18.

RHP J.J. Hoover was hit for five runs (four earned) in one-third of an inning in relief as the Cubs pushed across five runs to extend their lead to 8-0. Hoover walked three and gave up five hits as his ERA rose to 16.88. Manager Bryan Price said, "He just wasn't sharp. He was missing and got into trouble falling behind, and it just wasn't his night."

RHP J.J. Hoover is the Reds closer for now. Hoover gave up Starling Marte's go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning on Friday in his first save opportunity of the year. Even though the Reds are in rebuilding mode, manager Bryan Price doesn't want to go with a closer-by-committee situation. "I'd rather there not be a lot of ambiguity there," Price said. "J.J.'s the most prepared of our group to close at this time." Hoover pitched a 1-2-3 ninth on Saturday in a non-save situation.

RHP J.J Hoover's first save opportunity since inheriting the closer's role from Aroldis Chapman, who was traded this offseason, didn't go so well. He left a 1-0 slider up in the zone and Starling Marte sent it sailing 404 feet into the left-center field seats for his first career grand slam to erase a three-run deficit in a 6-5 Pirates' win. "I didn't execute that pitch to the best of my ability and he got it," Hoover said. "The weather was no excuse. I warmed up and did everything I needed to do to get ready. I just didn't execute that pitch."

Hoover gave up a homer to Elian Herrera in the first game of the Reds' doubleheader loss to the Brewers, giving them an important insurance run.

Hoover overall has had a good season, but he's given up homers in his last two outings. After allowing 13 homers in 62.2 innings last season, he has allowed five this year in 59 innings.

Hoover had another rough outing Friday night, allowing two runs in the eighth inning against the Rockies.

Hoover first game up a game-tying homer to Carlos Gonzalez, and then a triple to Nolan Arenado, who scored two batters later. That's two homers allowed this week for Hoover, the first two all season, after he gave up 13 in 62.2 innings last year.

Hoover blew a save opportunity Tuesday night against the Cubs, giving up a game-tying homer to Kyle Schwarber in the ninth. He was getting the chance because Aroldis Chapman was unavailable after throwing 44 pitches Sunday and then getting the save Monday.

Despite the blown save Tuesday, Hoover is having a a much better season, posting a 1.70 ERA and 0.992 WHIP over 42.1 innings. If Chapman gets dealt, Hoover would probably be next in line to close.

Hoover pitched a scoreless eighth inning Sunday against the Padres, retiring three batters on nine pitches while protecting a four-run lead.

There wasn't an opportunity for a hold on Sunday, but Hoover is going to pitch more eighth innings now with Jumbo Diaz getting sent down. It'll likely be he and Tony Cingrani (who has been faltering lately) sharing that job.

Hoover got a vulture-win Sunday against the Nats, giving up a game-tying single in the seventh inning before getting two outs on a line-drive double play.

Unlike Saturday's win, this was hardly earned. Hoover gave up two hard shots, then watched the Reds score six runs in the bottom of the inning. Nonetheless, Hoover has been better this season, but the walk rate looms as a portent of danger.

Hoover picked up his third win of the season Saturday, pitching a perfect eighth inning.

The vultured wins have given him some value, but despite his 2.25 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, Hoover's 16:11 K:BB ratio in 20 innings is a far cry from his usual rates, and a big correction could be coming.