MLB Player News

Montero is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.

Montero started each of the first five games this season, but he'll take a seat for the sixth contest. Charlie Blackmon will be in the designated hitter spot, Kris Bryant will play right field and Michael Toglia will handle first base.

Freeman went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBI against the Giants in an 8-3 victory Monday.

Freeman is off to a hot start to the campaign, slashing .360/.500/.520 over 32 plate appearances. He's collected a pair of three-hit performances over his past three games, though only one of the hits during that span has gone for extra bases. Freeman has driven in six runs through seven games and should get ample opportunity to produce throughout the season with Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani hitting ahead of him.

Steer went 2-for-5 with a double, home run, four RBI and two runs in Monday's win over the Phillies.

Steer stepped to the plate in the top of the 10th inning Monday against Connor Brogdon and hit a go-ahead 383-foot home run to give Cincinnati the lead for good. It was Steer's first career grand slam. The second-year Red looks to build upon his strong rookie campaign last season in which he slashed .271/.356/.464 with 23 home runs and 86 RBI.

Flores was added to the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

It appeared that Flores would be held out of Monday's contest after taking a tumble Sunday afternoon, but he worked out before the game and ultimately got the green light. He'll man first base and bat fifth.

Flores (shoulder) is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Flores injured his shoulder Sunday after tumbling into the dugout trying to catch a foul ball in the first inning. Tyler Fitzgerald will draw the start at first base and bat ninth in Monday's game against Dodgers left-hander James Paxton.

Gallo is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest against the Pirates, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Gallo started each of the Nationals' first three contests against a right-hander, but he went 0-for-12 with six strikeouts and will now take a seat versus lefty Marco Gonzales on Monday. Joey Meneses will handle first base in Gallo's stead.

Tellez is out of the lineup for Monday's game versus the Nationals.

The Pirates are facing a fifth straight left-handed starting pitcher to begin the season, and the lefty-hitting Tellez has now been on the bench on three occasions. Connor Joe will start at first base Monday in Tellez's stead.

Montero will serve as the Rockies' designated hitter and No. 8 batter in Monday's game against the Cubs, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

Montero has now started each of the Rockies' first five games of the season, with three starts coming at DH and two at first base. Charlie Blackmon has been playing more right field than expected early on and Kris Bryant not being confined to first base has allowed Montero everyday at-bats thus far. He has just two hits, but a 3:3 K:BB is encouraging for a player who drew just 15 walks all of last season.

Encarnacion-Strand went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 victory over Washington.

The Reds made a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the ninth, plating three runs after the first two batters were retired to gain the win. After Will Benson tied the game with a two-run shot, Encarnacion-Strand walked it off with a solo blast. The homer was his first hit after going 0-for-12 to start the season.

Tellez went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run during Sunday's 9-7 victory over the Marlins.

Tellez earned the start against Marlins lefty starter Trevor Rogers and struck out three times prior to crushing a go-ahead three-run homer off right-handed reliever Vladimir Gutierrez in the seventh. It was the first homer of the season for Tellez, who started just two of the four games in Miami due to the Marlins' lefty-heavy rotation. The Pirates are scheduled to face a fifth-straight southpaw Monday in MacKenzie Gore of the Nationals, putting Tellez at risk of sitting for the third time in five games. However, Tellez is slated to be the primary first-basemen against righties, and as the Pirates' schedule normalizes, he will be in line for the bulk of the work.