MLB Player News

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.

France is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

With Eric Hosmer (illness) moving to the injured list ahead of Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Rockies, France drew his second start of the season at first base, going 0-for-2 to snap a four-game hitting streak to begin the campaign. The lefty-hitting Jake Cronenworth will pick up his third start in five games at first base in the series finale, so it looks like the right-handed-hitting France could have to settle for short-side platoon work at the position while Hosmer is sidelined.

Naylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

The 23-year-old leads the Rockies with three starts as the designated hitter through 10 games, as the team is often utilizing it to give the lineup regulars a day out of the field. Naylor is 1-for-10 with three strikeouts in four appearances. Manny Machado will be the DH while Greg Garcia starts at third base Sunday.

Smith is starting in left field and batting seventh Sunday against the Braves, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Smith is tied for second on the team with five RBI through nine games, though Sunday will be only his fourth start of the season. The 25-year-old is likely to continue being utilized in a reserve role but could push for a larger role with continued strong performances at the plate.

Votto was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Sunday.

The 36-year-old was initially included in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader with the Tigers, but the Reds scratched him after he reported COVID-19-related symptoms to the Reds, according to Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Nightengale notes that Votto has yet to produce a positive test result, so he may be out of action until he's cleared through additional testing. Based on the precedent for cases similar to Votto involving players who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 but don't test positive, the first baseman will likely miss two days at a minimum, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic.

Bell is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

The 28-year-old started the first eight games of the season between first base and designated hitter, but he'll head to the bench Sunday as he is 5-for-31 with a .440 OPS and 11 strikeouts. Jose Osuna will operate at first base for the Pirates in the series finale.

Solano went 2-for-5 with three RBI during Saturday's 7-3 win over the Rangers.

Solano has emerged as one of the top run producers in the National League during the first week of the season, as he has already notched 13 RBI in just 29 at-bats. He is riding a seven-game hitting streak and is carrying one of the hottest bats in all of baseball at the moment while tallying 10 RBI and four extra-base hits in his last four games.

Beaty went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 11-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

Beaty batted ninth and covered first base in his second start of the year. His fourth-inning homer against Diamondbacks starter Luke Weaver would count as the winning run in the contest. It's Beaty's first hit in seven plate appearances in 2020. The 27-year-old typically serves as depth at the corner infield positions and rarely sees much playing time.