MLB Player News

Smith is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Rays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Smith will take a seat after starting Washington's first five games of the season, going 5-for-19 with an RBI and two runs scored over those contests. Joey Meneses will slot in at first base while Stone Garrett enters the lineup at designated hitter and bats seventh in the series finale with Tampa Bay.

Santana went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Santana has been in the lineup for all five of Pittsburgh's games to this point, though Tuesday marked his fourth hitless effort. He doesn't appear to be at risk of losing playing time right away, especially given that he has yet to be moved out of the cleanup spot. The Pirates have had a more stable lineup as compared to 2022, but if Santana continues to struggle, he could enter into more of a rotational role between first base and designated hitter.

Reds manager David Bell said Votto (shoulder) is unlikely to be activated when first eligible Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Votto began a minor-league rehab assignment over the weekend at Triple-A Louisville, but he still has some work to do as he completes his recovery from August 2022 shoulder surgery. The new target for his 2023 debut might be early next week.

Bohm is hitting third for the Phillies on Tuesday night against the Yankees.

J.T. Realmuto has the night off, so Bohm gets a boost up the batting order versus the Yankees and right-hander Domingo German. The 26-year-old third baseman has gone 7-for-15 (.467) with one home run and two doubles through four games this season. Darick Hall is playing first base and hitting cleanup Tuesday in the Bronx.

Freeman went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs in Monday's 13-4 victory over Colorado.

Freeman was one of four Dodgers with multiple hits in the win, and he's racked up six base knocks over his past 10 at-bats. Freeman is hitting a robust .421 this season, though his fifth-inning double Monday is his only extra-base hit thus far. The star first baseman has also scored four runs over four games after tying for the NL lead with 117 runs scored last season.

Goldschmidt went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Monday's 8-4 loss to Atlanta.

Goldschmidt's seventh-inning blast was the only one of the Cardinals' 12 hits to go for extra bases. The first baseman is off to an excellent start this season, recording two hits in each of the first four games. He's added two RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base and a 3:2 BB:K while occupying his usual No. 3 spot in the order.

Montero is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

With Mike Moustakas drawing the nod at third base Monday, Montero will sit after he had manned the position in each of the Rockies' first four games of the 2023 season. Montero recorded four hits -- including a home run -- across his 16 at-bats in the Rockies' season-opening series in San Diego, but he struck out eight times.

Flores is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Now on the bench for a third straight matchup against a right-handed pitcher with Chicago bringing Michael Kopech to the hill, Flores looks like he's being viewed as a short-side platoon player in the infield. LaMonte Wade and David Villar should continue to occupy the corner-infield spots for the Giants more often than not.

Hall is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Hall started at first base in the first two games of the season and went 2-for-7 with a double, a walk and a run scored, but he'll head to the bench Sunday with southpaw Martin Perez pitching for Texas. Alec Bohm will slide over to first base while Edmundo Sosa starts at the hot corner.

Flores is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Flores went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in the season opener but will sit Sunday for the second consecutive game. David Villar will receive another start at the hot corner while J.D. Davis mans first base.