Stephens earned the save, striking out one in three innings while allowing a hit in Tuesday's 10-4 win in Washington.
Stephens came on in the seventh inning with Atlanta leading 9-4 and finished off the Nationals for his second three-inning save of the season. The righty typically works in low-leverage situations, and his latest appearance fits into that category. After a three-year absence from big-league action, the 28-year-old has put together a solid 2.61 ERA and 21:5 K:BB in 22 innings.
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Braves' Jackson Stephens: Takes loss in extras
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Stephens (0-1) was stuck with the loss Sunday against the Padres, giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk over two innings of relief. He struck out one.
He entered the game to begin the 10th inning and had few problems, but things spiraled out of control for Stephens in the 11th after a leadoff double by Ha-Seong Kim. The right-hander had been solid in a long relief role for Atlanta until Sunday, and he carries a 3.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB through 12 innings with one three-inning save on his ledger.
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Braves' Jackson Stephens: Contract selected
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Stephens' contract was selected by Atlanta on Tuesday.
Stephens owns a 4.83 ERA in 63.1 career major-league innings, the last of which came in 2018. He'll likely fill a low-leverage bullpen role for now.
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Braves' Jackson Stephens: Receives chance in Atlanta
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Stephens signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Wednesday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Stephens posted a 1.82 ERA over 49.1 innings while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League this year, and he apparently showed enough to warrant a look from the reigning World Series champions. The 27-year-old appeared in 36 big-league games for the Reds between 2017 and 2018, posting a 4.83 ERA in 63.1 frames.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Clears waivers
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Stephens cleared waivers Monday and was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville.
Stephens pitched at least 25 innings in the big leagues in both 2017 and 2018 but did not see another opportunity in 2019. He spent the entirety of the year with Louisville, where he posted a 5.14 ERA in 84 innings.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Sent to minor-league camp
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Stephens was moved to minor-league camp Monday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Stephens has thrown 63.1 innings for the Reds over the last two seasons, recording a mediocre 4.83 ERA. He could be back with the Reds at some point this season when injuries strike the team's bullpen.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Reinstated from disabled list
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Stephens (knee) was activated from the 10-day DL on Wednesday.
Stephens will rejoin the bullpen after spending the past five weeks on the shelf due to a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. The 24-year-old was able to pitch in seven Triple-A games while on a rehab assignment, including a three-inning outing against Indianapolis on Friday. Look for him to be available immediately versus the Brewers on Wednesday. In a corresponding move, Amir Garrett (foot) was put on the DL.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Set to begin rehab stint
Rotowire
Stephens (knee) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Stephens landed on the disabled list July 24 with a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee, so it's encouraging to see him head out on a minor-league rehab stint so soon. He'll toss one inning or 20-to-25 pitches Tuesday and will likely build from there. Assuming everything goes off without a hitch, the 24-year-old righty could find himself back in the big-league bullpen before the end of the month. Prior to suffering the injury, Stephens compiled a 4.82 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in 28 innings as a long reliever for the Reds.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Suffers torn meniscus
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Stephens was placed on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday with a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee.
While the move is retroactive to Monday, Stephens' season is likely over, given the nature of the injury. The 24-year-old righty logged a 4.82 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in 28 innings as a long reliever out of the big-league bullpen.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Earns win in relief Wednesday
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Stephens threw 1.2 scoreless innings in relief Wednesday against the Braves and got the win when the Reds rallied to take the lead in the seventh inning and held on.
Stephens lowered his ERA to 4.08 over 17.2 innings with the outing. After getting four big-league starts last year, Stephens has been limited to middle relief with the big club this year. He has improved his control considerably since getting the call, allowing just two walks.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Called up to majors
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Stephens was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
In two separate stints with the Reds earlier this season, Stephens had a 4.20 ERA in 15 innings. He struck out a mediocre 18.5 percent of batters while walking just 3.1 percent. In a corresponding move, Austin Brice was optioned to Triple-A.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Sent to minors
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Stephens was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Stephens was sent to the minors to clear a spot on the roster for Tuesday's starter, Anthony DeSclafani, who was activated from the disabled list in a corresponding roster move. The 24-year-old Stephens owns a serviceable 4.20 ERA across 15 innings with the Reds this season, so he should find his way back to the majors when additional bullpen help is needed.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Stephens was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Monday.
The 23-year-old will make a return trip to the big leagues after a month in the minors. He struggled in his first cup of coffee with Cincinnati, allowing two runs in his lone inning of work. His numbers in the minors weren't much better, as he produced a 5.04 ERA in five starts for the Bats. Stephens will look to bounce back in his current stint as the Reds' long reliever, replacing Kevin Shackelford on the active roster.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Back to Triple-A
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Stephens was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday
Stephens had been up with the team providing bullpen depth, as the Reds had been dealing with several injured relievers, as well as the absence of Raisel Iglesias (paternity list). He pitched in one game while with Cincinnati, allowing two earned runs on three hits in the lone appearance. With Iglesias back Sunday, Stephens will head back to the minors, where he served primarily as a starter in 2017.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Returns to majors
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Stephens was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
With both David Hernandez (shoulder) and Kevin Shackelford (elbow) landing on the DL, Stephens will return to provide depth in the Reds' bullpen. Stephens had more walks (8) than strikeouts (5) in Cactus League play.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Optioned to minors
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Stephens was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.
This isn't all too surprising, as Stephens entered spring training as a long shot to break camp with the Reds and did nothing in camp to change that (15.12 ERA, 2.40 WHIP across 8.1 innings). He'll serve as organizational pitching depth at Triple-A, where he posted a 4.92 ERA across 139 innings in 2017.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Hit hard by White Sox
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Stephens gave up five runs in one inning against the White Sox on Wednesday on two walks and three hits, including a grand slam by prospect Luis Robert.
Stephens has struggled so far this spring, seeing his ERA rise to 14.29 after this outing. He was already a long shot to make the team, but this poor start might end his chances earlier rather than later.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Will likely see starts during spring training
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Stephens is expected to compete for a spot in the Reds' rotation during spring training, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Despite last season's tough showing, Stephens will have the chance to earn another shot in the Cincinnati rotation. During the 2017 campaign he pitched seven games, four of which were starts, and logged a 4.68 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 25 innings. Should the Reds decide to open the season with a different starter in their fifth rotation spot, Stephens could still be used as a reliever.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Allows four runs in loss to Cubs
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Stephens (2-1) took the loss Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five over four innings against the Cubs.
He failed to build on the momentum from his strong outing against Boston last week, giving up a couple run-scoring hits to Kyle Schwarber, including a homer. Stephens hides the ball pretty well with his delivery, but his stuff is mediocre. While the 23-year-old should get a chance to compete for a rotation spot in spring training, he will need to show something more before he warrants consideration in standard formats.
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Reds' Jackson Stephens: Throws quality start in no-decision Sunday
Rotowire
Stephens allowed one run on two hits and two walks across six innings in a no-decision Sunday against the Red Sox. He struck out three.
Stephens limited baserunners to great effect for most of the day, with the only real damage against him coming on a solo home run from Rafael Devers in the fifth inning. He was in line for the win upon his removal after the sixth, but a late collapse from the bullpen prevented that from happening. Stephens was coming off a rough outing earlier in the week, but this solid performance lowered his ERA down to a respectable 3.86. The 23-year-old is pitching for a spot in the 2018 rotation and will look to finish this year strong with Saturday's start against the Cubs.
