MLB Player News

France isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against Houston, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

France will catch a breather after recording three hits, an RBI and a run across his last two games. Jake Cronenworth will shift to first base while France sits, allowing Sung-Mun Song to start at second base.

Freeman (hand) will start at first base and bat third Friday against the Diamondbacks.

Freeman was pulled from Wednesday's game against the Cubs after getting hit on the hand by a pitch, but X-rays came back negative after the game, and he won't have to miss any starts as a result of the incident. The veteran first baseman has been seeing the ball very well to begin the second half, putting together a 15-game hitting streak in which he's slashed .466/.483/.534 while collecting three RBI and five runs scored.

Bauers (abdomen) will start at first base and bat third in Friday's contest versus the Twins.

Bauers missed each of the last three games with abdominal soreness, but he is feeling well enough to return to action for Friday's series opener against Minnesota. The 30-year-old is pacing the Brewers this season with 20 home runs and an .878 OPS.

Olson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, two walks and three total runs scored against the Marlins in an 11-3 victory Thursday.

Olson's homer was a 422-foot shot to center field in the sixth inning, and he added a single for his fourth two-hit effort across his past six games. The veteran first baseman is batting .429 (9-for-21) during that span with four homers and three doubles. The hot stretch has pushed Olson's season OPS to .896, which is ninth best in the majors and on pace for his highest regular-season mark since 2023. He also ranks fifth in MLB with 32 home runs.

Sheets is in the lineup Thursday versus the Diamondbacks.

Arizona has southpaw Kohl Drake taking the mound Thursday, which usually means the left-handed hitting Sheets would take a seat. It's the 30-year-old's second start versus a lefty since July 2. He has a .376 OPS in 17 games since the All-Star break.

Stewart went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Athletics.

Stewart launched the first of two Cincinnati homers in the fourth inning to erase an Athletics lead. It was the 25th knock of the season for Stewart, who's gone deep six times and driven in 22 runs over 19 games since the All-Star break.

Manager Pat Murphy said that Bauers (abdomen) was available to come off the bench in an emergency Thursday versus the Pirates, and the team is hopeful that he'll play Friday against the Twins, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Bauers missed the final three games of Milwaukee's four-game set against Pittsburgh after suffering an abdominal injury Monday, but it appears his time on the sidelines is nearing its end. The 30-year-old has continued to be one of the Brewers' most productive bats during the second half, slashing .286/.386/.469 with two homers, five RBI, 12 runs scored and two steals in 16 games since the break.

Bauers (abdomen) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Pirates.

It will be the third straight day out of the lineup for Bauers, who is dealing with abdominal soreness. He remains day-to-day for the time being, and it's unclear whether Bauers will be available off the bench Thursday. Andrew Vaughn will be at first base and Luis Lara will play right field for the Brewers on Thursday.

Horwitz is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Brewers on Wednesday.

Horwitz has gone 1-for-12 with a double and three RBI in his three games since being reinstated from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll be on the bench for Wednesday's contest while Rafael Flores starts at first base and bats eighth.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters following Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Cubs that X-rays on Freddie Freeman's hand came back negative, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Freeman was removed from the fifth inning of Wednesday's contest after being hit on the hand, but the good news is that he appears to have avoided a serious injury. With Thursday being a scheduled off day for the Dodgers, Freeman is expected to be in the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Diamondbacks.