MLB Player News

Joe is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Dodgers.

It's the first time since May 13 that Joe has been absent from the Pirates' starting nine. Rowdy Tellez will occupy first base and Edward Olivares will patrol right field while Joe gets some rest.

Freeman went 1-for-5 with a stolen base and a run against Pittsburgh in a loss Wednesday.

Freeman has been much less active on the basepaths this season -- he's attempted just four steals (with three successes) after going 23-for-24 last year. That 2023 performance was likely an aberration, as the 23 thefts were 10 more than his previous career-high mark. Freeman's other numbers are mostly down so far this season as well, but he's still been quite productive with a .294/.397/.476 slash line, seven homers, 17 doubles, 35 RBI and and 36 runs through 63 contests.

Bell went 3-for-4 with an RBI during Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Rays.

Bell has generated at least one hit in eight consecutive contests, with Wednesday's performance his third three-hit game during that span. The first baseman drove in Vidal Brujan on a fifth-inning single, marking Bell's 30th RBI of the campaign. Through 262 plate appearances, Bell owns a .716 OPS and a 19.1 percent strikeout rate, down from 21.8 percent in 2023.

The Rockies will likely place Bryant (back) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

Wednesday marked the third game in a row Bryant missed due to his sore back, which has not responded well to treatment. He will likely be joined on the IL by Sean Bouchard (ankle), and the Rockies will presumably call up a couple of minor leaguers to fill the openings in their outfield. Injuries have limited Bryant to just 24 games so far this season, during which he's slashed .186/.307/.279 with 10 RBI.

Flores went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run and five RBI in Wednesday's 9-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

The Giants launched three homers on the day, but Flores' grand slam off Jordan Montgomery in the third inning proved to be the biggest blow. Flores snapped a 21-game homer drought with the blast, but that May 4 shot was his only other homer on the season. The 32-year-old's five RBI on Wednesday equaled his total from his prior 26 games combined.

Rockies manager Bud Black said that Bryant (back) could be placed on the injured list if he doesn't show significant improvement by the end of the day Wednesday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

Bryant is missing a third straight start Wednesday with lingering back soreness after he ran into the protective netting during the team's previous series against the Dodgers. The 32-year-old missed time earlier this season with a back injury and also was absent for a large chunk of the 2022 campaign with back problems.

Tellez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

After he had began to lose out on regular playing time toward the end of May, the lefty-hitting Tellez has started in each of the last four games against right-handed pitching. Tellez still remains in a platoon at first base with Connor Joe, however, and Tellez will take a seat Wednesday while the Dodgers bring southpaw James Paxton to the hill.

Flores will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Flores is starting at first base for the fourth time in five games, but all but one of those starts have come against left-handed pitchers. Even with top first baseman LaMonte Wade (hamstring) on the injured list, Flores looks as though he'll remain in the short side of a platoon while recent call-up Trenton Brooks gets the opportunity to make regular starts at the position versus righties.

Brooks is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

The lefty-hitting Brooks is on the bench for the second game in a row while the Giants have faced southpaws Blake Walston and Jordan Montgomery in those contests. Wilmer Flores will get another start at first base Wednesday, but Brooks still looks to be in the strong side of a platoon at the position while LaMonte Wade (hamstring) is on the shelf.

Bauers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Bauers will take a seat for the second day in a row, this time against a right-handed pitcher (Aaron Nola) after his absence from the lineup for Tuesday's 2-1 loss came while southpaw Cristopher Sanchez started for Philadelphia. Though he's been playing more often than not against right-handed pitching of late, Bauers is slashing just .176/.276/.314 over his last 15 games and could begin to lose out on starts more frequently if he fails to right the ship.