MLB Player News

The Nationals reinstated Bell from the COVID-19 injured list Monday.

One of 11 Nationals placed on the COVID-19 IL ahead of Opening Day, Bell will be ready to debut for Washington after completing a mandatory quarantine and passing all phases of MLB's health and safety protocol. Washington has yet to release a lineup for Monday's series opener in St. Louis, but Bell will presumably start at first base in place of Ryan Zimmerman, who had been serving as the team's primary option at the position for the first week of the season. Bell should fill the strong side of a platoon at first base, while the right-handed Zimmerman draws most of the starts versus lefty pitching.

Bell could be cleared through the league's COVID-19 protocols as soon as Monday but will likely need another day or two afterward to get ready to rejoin the lineup, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison could all be back in action early this week provided they received clearance by Monday. The Nats could certainly use three members of their expected starting lineup back after losing five straight games and getting shut out three times in the last four, but there's no guarantee the trio is able to shake off the rust quickly. Bell should slot in as Washington's primary cleanup hitter and first baseman once he makes his season debut.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he will be careful not to overload the 35-year-old Cabrera, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Cabrera has given Arizona early production with a .944 OPS, two home runs and six RBI, but Lovullo wants to be mindful of not overextending the infielder and wearing him down. He sat out Sunday's contest after playing two consecutive games, as Josh VanMeter entered the starting lineup in his place. Cabrera started four games during the first full week of baseball and never more than two straight.

Freeman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Phillies.

Freeman's lone hit of the night came in the fifth when he tied the game on a changeup that just cleared the wall in center field. The 2020 NL MVP has just five hits in his first 30 at-bats, but four of those hits have been home runs, and he's found the long ball in each of his past three games while tallying six RBI during that span. Freeman's been keeping fantasy managers at ease with his power, and it should be only a matter of time before he gets hot and starts putting more balls into play aside from home runs.

Hoskins went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Braves.

Hoskins may have only had one hit on the night but he had plenty of good at-bats, as he saw a total of 19 pitches in his last three plate appearances. A good chunk of those came in the fourth inning during a nine-pitch sequence that ended with the 28-year-old driving a laser over the left-field wall for a home run. Hoskins has still struggled lately as he's gone 1-for-12 with the home run after he started the season with 10 hits and four RBI through the first six games.

Wade was recalled from the alternate training site Sunday, and he's starting in center field and batting eighth in the series finale against the Rockies, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 27-year-old failed to make the Opening Day roster, but he'll join the team Sunday for his season debut. Wade had a .626 OPS in 44 plate appearances in 2020 with Minnesota and was acquired by San Francisco in February.

Calhoun is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

After being activated from the injured list earlier this weekend, Calhoun started in the outfield in the first two games of the series, going 1-for-10 with a double and two RBI between the contests. He isn't believed to have suffered a setback with his surgically repaired meniscus upon returning to action, but Calhoun will likely sit Sunday in what is most likely a maintenance day. Pavin Smith will fill in for Calhoun in right field.

Cabrera is not in the lineup Sunday against the Reds.

The 35-year-old went 1-for-2 with a homer, two runs, two RBI and two walks Saturday but will head to the bench for the series finale. Cabrera has a .944 OPS through 33 plate appearances this season. Josh VanMeter will start at the keystone Sunday, pushing Eduardo Escobar to third base.

Cron is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Josh Fuentes will take over at first base while Cron sits for the second time in less than a week. Following a productive spring training, Cron has struggled to get going at the plate, despite making six of his eight starts at Coors Field. Cron has recorded four hits -- two doubles and two singles -- while striking out 11 times in 27 at-bats.

Hiura is not in the lineup Sunday at St. Louis.

Hiura went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer -- his first of the season -- Saturday, but he'll head to the bench for the series finale. Daniel Vogelbach will start at first base and bat second Sunday for the Brewers.