MLB Player News

Busch went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Friday's 7-2 loss to the Mets.

Chicago's offense came on solo home runs by Kyle Tucker and Busch, with the latter recording his seventh long ball of the season and second in May. Busch has mostly struggled this month with a .192 batting average and 27.6 percent strikeout rate across eight games. Overall, he has a more respectable .258 average to go along with a strong .860 OPS.

Contreras went 2-for-4 with one run scored, a double and three RBI in Friday's 10-0 win over the Nationals.

Contreras got the Cardinals on the board with a two-run double in the first inning, and he brought in an additional run in the eighth when he drew a bases-loaded walk. He has recorded at least one RBI in six of the last nine games he's played in, and over that span he has gone 12-for-30 (.400) with six runs scored, three home runs and 13 RBI.

Toglia went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks Friday against the Padres.

Toglia has struggled to get going at the plate this season, though there have been some positive aspects to his performance across the last two weeks. Four of his five home runs have come in his last 13 games, and he's also delivered seven RBI and four runs scored. Despite that short-term success, he has just a .208 average with a 35.2 percent strikeout rate across 145 plate appearances on the campaign.

Hernandez went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, an RBI double and three total runs scored in Friday's 14-11 win over the Diamondbacks.

Hernandez started at third base against southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez in this contest. The 33-year-old Hernandez has a pair of multi-hit efforts in May, but he's struggling to find consistent playing time against right-handed pitchers. He's at a .215/.267/.468 slash line with six homers, 15 RBI, 12 runs scored, two doubles and no stolen bases over 87 plate appearances. Hernandez platoons with Max Muncy at third base, and he's also in the mix in the free-for-all for playing time at second base in the absence of Tommy Edman (ankle).

The Pirates placed Valdez on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 8, due to left shoulder inflammation, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

It's unclear when exactly the injury first surfaced for Valdez, but he's gone 2-for-13 across his past four contests. The Pirates are now down another option at first base, with Valdez joining Spencer Horwitz (wrist) and Endy Rodriguez (finger) on the shelf. Ji Hwan Bae was called up by Pittsburgh in a corresponding move, though it's likely to be Matt Gorski that sees a bump in playing time.

Mervis is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.

It's right-hander Bryse Wilson on the bump for the White Sox, but the left-handed-hitting Mervis will nonetheless begin the festivities on the bench. It's the first time this season that Mervis -- who is 1-for-14 with 10 strikeouts in May -- is not in the lineup versus a righty. Liam Hicks is in the designated hitter spot for Miami.

Valdez is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.

Valdez had started each of the previous 18 games at first base against right-handed pitching, but he will begin this one on the bench as Atlanta sends righty Bryce Elder to the hill. Matt Gorski will play first base and bat sixth for the Pirates.

Toglia went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, a walk and two total RBI in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to Detroit.

Toglia and teammate Ryan McMahon each had two doubles and a homer in the contest, and the pair combined for four RBI. Toglia's long ball was a 413-foot, two-run shot in the third inning that broke a 3-3 tie. This was a much-needed positive performance for the young first baseman -- coming into Wednesday, he had gone 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts over his first four games in May (all road contests in San Francisco).

Wade went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Cubs.

Wade lined an RBI double into right field off right-hander Ben Brown, driving in the first of two runs in the fourth inning. The lefty-hitting first baseman has shown improvement after a lackluster start to the season, recording at least one hit in four of his last five games. Wade is now slashing .158/.259/.267 with 13 RBI, nine runs scored, eight extra-base hits and a 14:26 BB:K across 117 plate appearances this year.

Freeman went 3-for-4 with one run scored, one triple and four RBI in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Marlins.

Freeman got the Dodgers on the board in the sixth inning with an RBI single, and he added to the lead in the seventh with a bases-clearing RBI triple before being brought home by Andy Pages. Freeman has been on fire at the plate and is in the midst of a 12-game hitting streak, going 22-for-46 (.478) with 11 runs scored, four home runs and 18 RBI over that span.