Dropped by Reds, Doolittle lands job with Mariners

Former A’s closer Sean Doolittle, designated for assignment by Cincinnati on Tuesday, was claimed on waivers by Seattle on Thursday.

Doolittle, 34, is 3-1 with a 4.46 ERA in 45 games. Though the left-hander has 41 strikeouts in 381⁄3 innings — an average of 9.6 per nine innings that is up from 7.0 last season — Doolittle’s 1.513 WHIP is well above his career average of 1.016.

With Doolittle, the Mariners have two lefthanders in their bullpen. Anthony Misiewicz, the other, has appeared in 54 games, posting a 4.08 ERA in 461⁄3 innings.

Seattle began Thursday in third place in the AL West, six games behind first-place Houston and one game behind the second-place A’s. Seattle also was fourth in the AL wild-card race beginning Thursday, 21⁄2 games behind Boston for the second wild-card spot. Medical report: Cincinnati right-hander Tejay Antone, who had been on the injured list since June 26 because of a right forearm strain before being activated Tuesday, will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, he announced on Twitter.

Antone, 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in 23 games this season, pulled himself from his outing Tuesday after five pitches and went on the IL on Wednesday.

⏩ The Phillies put first baseman Rhys Hoskins on the IL and said that he will have season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal injury. The Sacramento State alum, activated from the IL on Sunday, missed 14 games this month with a groin injury.

⏩ Philadelphia righthander Zach Eflin, activated after a stint on the IL, was scratched from a scheduled start against the Diamondbacks because of knee discomfort.