MLB Player News

Votto went 2-for-2 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Cubs.

It was a vintage Votto performance, as he reached base three times and slugged his 11th homer of the year in the fourth inning for the Reds' first run of the day. The veteran first baseman has been locked in lately, going 12-for-36 (.333) over the last 10 games with three doubles, three long balls, six runs and seven RBI.

Smith went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored against the Yankees on Saturday.

The Mets scored all of their eight runs during the fifth and sixth innings, and Smith was right in the middle of both rallies. His RBI single in the fifth opened the scoring, and his double the following inning plated two more runs. Smith has racked up five hits and 12 total bases over his past two contests to boost his average from .245 to .256. He's slashing .409/.409/.727 in his last seven games, including Thursday's two-homer performance.

Flores isn't starting Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Flores will get a breather after he went 2-for-7 with a home run, three RBI, three runs and two walks across the last two games. LaMonte Wade will start at first base while Thairo Estrada draws the start at the hot corner.

Bell isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.

Bell will be out of the lineup for a second straight game with left-hander Clayton Kershaw on the mound for the Dodgers. Ryan Zimmerman will start at first base and bat third.

Wade went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a double, a walk and three RBI in Friday's 11-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

Wade got the Giants on the board in the second with a sacrifice fly and only got better as the game went on. He doubled in the fourth and then ripped a two-run blast to right in the eighth, giving the Giants a 7-2 cushion. Wade has been a pleasant addition to the lineup since his June 25 callup, as he's slashing .286/.360/.762 with three homers, six RBI, four runs scored and a 2:4 BB:K over seven games. The 27-year-old should remain a regular fixture in the lineup while the Giants are dealing with injuries to some of their key players.

Votto went 1-for-2 with a two-RBI double and a hit by pitch in Friday's 2-1 win over the Cubs.

The first baseman knocked in Jonathan India and Nick Castellanos in the sixth inning to give Cincinnati all it needed for the win. Votto has gone 13-for-43 (.302) with two home runs, seven RBI and four runs scored across his last 11 games. Despite the recent surge, his slash line is just .250/.329/.457 across 210 plate appearances this year.

Solano isn't starting Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Solano had recorded hits in four of his last five appearances and went 5-for-18 with a home run, a double, two runs, an RBI and two walks. He'll get a breather while Thairo Estrada starts at second base and bats eighth.

Bell is out of the lineup Friday against the Dodgers, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Bell will take a seat Friday with southpaw Julio Urias pitching for Los Angeles. Ryan Zimmerman will start at first base and bat cleanup in his place.

Rizzo (back) is back in the starting lineup Friday against the Reds.

Rizzo missed the last three games after he left Sunday's game against the Dodgers with lower back tightness. The first baseman said he was targeting a weekend return and he will indeed rejoin the lineup as the cleanup hitter Friday.

The Diamondbacks pulled Calhoun (hamstring) from his rehab assignment after he felt more discomfort, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Calhoun will be shut down for several days, per manager Torey Lovullo, who said an MRI revealed "inflammation" in the hamstring. It's the same hamstring on which he had surgery in April. During the second game of his rehab assignment, the outfielder aggravated the injury when trying to avoid being hit by a pitch. The news of a delay in Calhoun's rehab means Josh Reddick, Josh Rojas and Pavin Smith will continue to share right field duties for Arizona.