MLB Player News

Cronenworth is likely to earn more time at second base once Eric Hosmer returns from the injured list, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reported in his newsletter. "That's safe to say," manager Jayce Tingler said. "He's earning his time. He's earning it with his glove and his at-bats ... He continues to play like that, he's going to play quite a bit."

Cronenworth impressed the Padres with his work ethic during the shutdown and has continued to do so in this short season. He's been playing first base while Hosmer has been out, with Jurickson Profar and Greg Garcia sharing the second base duties, but he'll slide over and still get starts at second once Hosmer returns.

Naylor went 1-for-2 with a stolen base and a hit-by-pitch in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Naylor was plunked by Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen in the eighth inning and promptly stole second, but Treinen was able to prevent him from scoring. It's the first steal of the year for Naylor, who isn't known for his speed. The 23-year-old has mostly seen time off the bench this year -- he's batting .231 with no RBI and one run scored in 14 plate appearances.

Cronenworth went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Cronenworth's first homer of the year gave the Padres a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. The 26-year-old has filled in admirably at first base while Eric Hosmer (illness) has been out. Cronenworth is batting .333 with three RBI and five runs scored in six games this season, but he'll likely return to a bench role when Hosmer is able to return.

Solano isn't in the lineup Tuesday against the Rockies.

Solano has been on a tear at the plate this season, riding a nine-game hitting streak while logging a 1.163 OPS with a home run and 13 RBI during that time. However, he'll get a breather Tuesday with Mauricio Dubon starting at the keystone, batting eighth.

Votto went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run homer in Monday's 3-2 win over Cleveland.

Votto choked up on the bat and muscled a Zach Plesac pitch into the right-field seats of Great American Ball Park for his third home run of the season. The 36-year-old reported symptoms over the weekend but tested negative for COVID-19, leading to a quick turnaround from the IL. He's walked six times and struck out only once this season.

Votto (illness) was activated by the Reds and is in the lineup Monday against Cleveland, batting second.

Votto was away from the team as a precautionary measure in recent games, but he was officially activated by the Reds after testing negative for COVID-19. The 36-year-old will replace Christian Colon in the starting nine in the series opener against Cleveland. Aristides Aquino was optioned to the team's alternate training site in a corresponding move.

Votto (illness) will remain out of the lineup for Monday's game against Cleveland.

Votto tested negative for COVID-19 and is able to rejoin his teammates, but he won't be back in the lineup just yet. He's yet to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list, though that move could still happen in time for him to fill a bench role. Christian Colon starts at first base in his absence.

Votto tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday and could be activated from the injured list as soon as Monday night's game against Cleveland, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Votto self-reported coronavirus-like symptoms and landed on the COVID-19 injured list Sunday, but players are eligible to be activated from that list quite quickly if they never test positive for the virus. It turns out that the first baseman was dealing with an ordinary illness, and while there's no guarantee he returns right away, his absence shouldn't last too much longer.

Smith should step into an increased role after Yoenis Cespedes opted out of the 2020 season Sunday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports.

Smith received the start in left field Sunday and went 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts, and he should be in the lineup more going forward with Cespedes opting out. Smith appeared in 89 games last season and had somewhat of a breakout year with a .282/.355/.525 slash line and 11 home runs, but he entered 2020 as the odd man out for playing time. Most of his time figures to come as the designated hitter since he remains subpar defensively at first base and in the outfield.

Cronenworth will start at first base and bat ninth Sunday against the Rockies.

Making his third start in five games at first base, the lefty-hitting Cronenworth looks poised to occupy the strong side of a platoon with Ty France at the position while Eric Hosmer (illness) is on the injured list. Cronenworth has batted in the bottom third of the order in all of his starts thus far, and his low placement in the lineup and lack of a full-time role could limit his utility to NL-only leagues.