MLB Player News
-
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Continuing rehab assignment
Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday that Encarnacion-Strand (back) will remain on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville to begin the week, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports. "When he went down [with lower back inflammation], he wasn't swinging great," Francona said of Encarnacion-Strand. "Then you lose some time. You try to use [the rehab assignment] to your advantage."
Francona's comments suggest that Encarnacion-Strand isn't dealing with any physical setbacks since kicking off his rehab assignment May 22. Instead, the Reds want the 25-year-old to stockpile some more at-bats in the minors to get his timing back at the plate after he had struggled to begin the season before getting hurt and then being out of action for more than a month. Between stops in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and Louisville during his rehab assignment, Encarnacion-Strand has slashed .355/.412/.742 with seven extra-base hits and a 2:8 BB:K over 34 plate appearances. The Reds could revisit adding Encarnacion-Strand back to the active roster following Thursday's off day.
-
Victor Bericoto 1B | SF
Giants' Victor Bericoto: On mend from injury
Triple-A Sacramento placed Bericoto on its 7-day injured list May 9 due to an unspecified injury.
Though he's been out of action at Triple-A for more than three weeks, Bericoto should return to action with Sacramento before long. He began a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on May 22 and has gone 11-for-23 with seven extra-base hits and a stolen base through his first six games.
-
Pete Alonso 1B | BAL
Mets' Pete Alonso: Homers in win
Alonso went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Rockies.
Alonso gave the Mets a 3-1 lead with a 407-foot blast in the fourth inning. The first baseman has now hit safely in eight straight games, a stretch that includes five extra-base hits and eight RBI. On the season, he's slashing .288/.384/.543 with 12 homers, 46 RBI and 32 runs scored across 258 plate appearances.
-
Michael Busch 3B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Big game in win
Busch went 2-for-2 with two walks, a home run and three RBI in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Reds.
Busch had a big afternoon to lead the Cubs to another victory, and he recorded his first multi-hit effort since May 18. The slugging infielder has been a steady fantasy contributor all season, as he now has eight home runs, 33 RBI and an .852 OPS. The OPS would be a new career best for Busch, who could also surpass his career highs of 21 home runs and 65 RBI, both of which he posted last year.
-
Jake Bauers RF | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Struggling for playing time
Bauers is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
He's started just one of the Brewers' last seven games, with the 29-year-old sitting against four left-handers and two right-handers during that stretch. While the ongoing absence of Garrett Mitchell (oblique) has opened up a spot in the outfield, Bauers hasn't been able to take advantage. Expect the Brewers continue to use a rotation of Bauers, Isaac Collins and Daz Cameron in left field until Mitchell's return pushes Jackson Chourio from center field back to left.
-
Bryce Harper DH | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Sitting again Sunday
Harper (elbow) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Harper hasn't started since being hit by a pitch in the right elbow Tuesday versus Atlanta, and his absence will continue Sunday. The 32-year-old is still dealing with some bruising, though manager Rob Thomson relayed Saturday that the swelling has improved significantly over the past couple days. Harper will have Monday's team off day to aid in his recovery before the Phillies begin a three-game set in Toronto on Tuesday. For his part, Harper said that he's feeling much better and anticipates playing in the series opener versus the Blue Jays, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
-
Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor: Goes yard Saturday
Naylor went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a double and a second run scored in Saturday's 11-7 loss to the Nationals.
Naylor has hit safely in nine straight games, and this was his fourth consecutive multi-hit effort. During the hitting streak, he has gone 13-for-37 (.351) with five extra-base hits and eight RBI. The strong stretch has Naylor back up to batting .301 with an .827 OPS, seven homers, 37 RBI, 30 runs scored, 14 doubles, one triple and nine stolen bases across 57 contests this season.
-
Willson Contreras C | BOS
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Smacks RBI double
Contreras went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, one walk and one run scored in Saturday's victory over the Rangers.
He contributed to both runs in Saturday's victory, scoring on a Nolan Arenado sacrifice fly in the second inning and later driving in Masyn Winn with a ground-rule double in the fourth. Contreras has been slumping at the plate, slashing .224/.270/.345 over his past 15 games. The 33-year-old's power has noticeably declined in 2025, with his current .379 slugging percentage well below his career mark of .456. Despite a solid overall start to the season, the Cardinals would certainly benefit from Contreras rediscovering his power stroke.
-
Rhys Hoskins 1B | MIL
Brewers' Rhys Hoskins: Homers twice in win
Hoskins went 2-for-6 with two home runs and six RBI in Saturday's 17-7 win over the Phillies.
Hoskins tied a career high with six RBI on two homers in the first and fourth innings. The outburst was a welcome sight, as the first baseman had gone just 1-for-18 over his previous five games. On the year, he owns a strong .276/.374/.475 slash with nine long balls, 35 RBI, 20 runs scored and two steals across 214 plate appearances.
-
Bryce Harper DH | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Will attempt to swing bat
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Harper (elbow) will try to swing a bat during batting practice before Saturday's game against the Brewers, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.
Thomson relayed that Harper's right elbow is more bruised, though the swelling has drastically improved since he was hit by a pitch against Atlanta on Tuesday. Harper is out of the Phillies' lineup for a fourth consecutive game, but the expectation is that the All-Star first baseman will avoid a stint on the injured list. Alec Bohm will start at first base and bat in the cleanup spot against Milwaukee on Saturday.