MLB Player News

Freeman went 2-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and one run scored in Thursday's 6-2 win over the White Sox.

Freeman opened the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning and plated the Dodgers' next two runs with another two-bagger in the third. This was Freeman's third multi-hit effort over his last four games. The first baseman is at a .312/.382/.507 slash line with 10 home runs, 47 RBI, 45 runs scored and no stolen bases over 75 games this season. He's also collected 23 doubles, which has him tied for third in the majors through Thursday's action.

Naylor is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Giants.

Naylor returned to action Wednesday after missing the previous four contests with a neck injury. There's no indication he suffered a setback, but with lefty Robbie Ray on the bump for the Giants, it makes sense to give the left-handed-hitting Naylor a little more rest. Tim Tawa will handle first base and bat eighth.

Toglia is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Astros.

After slugging three home runs in his first three games following his June 16 call-up from Triple-A Albuquerque, Toglia has gone 9-for-48 with a 44 percent strikeout rate over his last 12 games. He'll get a day off to regroup while Orlando Arcia occupies first base.

The Reds announced Wednesday that X-rays on Steer's right hand returned negative, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Steer suffered a right hand contusion when he was hit by a Brayan Bello pitch in the seventh inning Wednesday in the Reds' 5-3 loss to the Red Sox. That game was the continuation of a suspended contest from Tuesday, and the hand injury prompted the Reds to scratch Steer from the lineup ahead of their 8-4 win over Boston in the second game of the day. While manager Terry Francona noted that Steer campaigned to play in the second game, the 27-year-old was dealing with enough swelling in his hand for the Reds to err on the side of caution and hold him out. Steer will benefit from a team off day Thursday before potentially making his return to the lineup Friday in Philadelphia.

Naylor started at designated hitter and went 1-for-4 with a sacrifice fly and an RBI in Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Giants.

Naylor returned to the lineup after missing four games due to a neck injury. He eventually moved to the field to play first base for the 10th inning.

Olson went 3-for-5 with a double and a grand slam in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Angels.

Olson blew the game wide open for Atlanta in the sixth, when he took Ryan Zeferjahn deep to right field for a 358-foot grand slam, the ninth of his career. Wednesday marked Olson's 16th multi-hit game of the season, five of which have come in the midst of his current nine-game hitting streak. Over that span, he has gone 15-for-38 (.395) with four doubles, one home run and seven RBI.

Lowe went 2-for-4 with a triple, four RBI and one run scored in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Tigers.

After going hitless in Game 1, Lowe got going early in Game 2 with an RBI single in the first inning before delivering the game-winning blow with a bases-loaded triple in the eighth. The first baseman has been streaky over his past 10 games, going hitless four times but also logging five multi-hit efforts and 13 RBI. On the season, he's slashing .233/.298/.402 with 13 home runs, 58 RBI, 37 runs scored and one steal across 359 plate appearances.

Encarnacion-Strand went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and a second run scored in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.

After fouling a ball off his foot in the continuation of a suspended game earlier Wednesday, Encarnacion-Strand was able to rejoin the lineup in the nightcap and proved to be the difference maker. The 25-year-old first baseman blasted a 439-foot grand slam off Greg Weissert to put the Reds ahead 4-3 in the seventh inning. It's the first homer since June 8 for Encarnacion-Strand, who'd gone 8-for-51 (.157) with an ugly .362 OPS in his last 15 games. He's now slashing .206/.233/.381 with six homers, 19 RBI and 13 runs scored through 133 plate appearances this season.

Encarnacion-Strand (foot) will start at first base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Earlier Wednesday, the Reds and Red Sox resumed their suspended game from Tuesday. Encarnacion-Strand started that game at third base and went 1-for-3 before being lifted in the bottom of the eighth inning after he had fouled a ball off his foot in the top of the frame. The Reds didn't include him in their initial lineup for Wednesday's scheduled game, but Encarnacion-Strand will end up starting after Spencer Steer was scratched due to a hand injury that he suffered earlier in the day when he was hit by a pitch. Though Encarnacion-Strand may not be 100 percent while he tends to the foot issue, the Reds evidently felt that Steer was more in need of rest and recovery for the nightcap.

Steer was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox due to a hand injury, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Earlier Wednesday, the Reds and Red Sox resumed their game from Tuesday that was suspended in the top of the fourth inning. Though Steer was able to play the entire game and finished 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, he experienced swelling on his hand after being hit by a pitch in the seventh inning. The Reds initially included him in the lineup for the nightcap, but Steer will end up sitting while Christian Encarnacion-Strand enters the lineup at first base. With the Reds off Thursday, Steer could be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Phillies.