The Cincinnati Reds failed to add a needed starter at the '23 deadline and missed the playoffs by 2 games. Why they doubled down on that strength now.

The Cincinnati Reds made a move to strengthen their starting rotation by acquiring pitcher Zack Littell from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade that also included the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers, sitting comfortably atop the NL West heading into the deadline, landed some young talent in the trade. Serwinowski, who the Reds drafted in 2022, is the No. 10 prospect in Cincinnati's system, per MLB.com.

It's a very light three-game MLB slate on Thursday, July 31, though there's the chance for more potential fireworks with the MLB trade deadline today at 6 p.m. ET. One of the contests is the Cincinnati Reds hosting the Atlanta Braves at 7:10 p.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani had another first in his MLB career. Ohtani struck out in his first four plate appearances Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds, the first time he has done that in his eight seasons and 981 games in the majors.

Shohei Ohtani left the mound alongside a trainer in the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ Tuesday night game against the Cincinnati Reds because of cramping, according to the team. The two-way star did remain in the game as the Dodgers’ designated hitter.