MLB Player News

Alonso went 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and two additional runs Sunday in the Mets' 11-5 win over the Royals.

Alonso took reliever Jacob Barnes deep in the top of the ninth for his 40th home run of the season, allowing him to take sole possession of the National League rookie record previously established by the Dodgers' Cody Bellinger in 2017. With 58 games left to play, Alonso will have a realistic shot at besting Aaron Judge's MLB rookie record of 52, which was also established in 2017. Like Bellinger and Judge before him, Alonso looks on track to claim Rookie of the Year honors, especially with one of his chief competitors for the award -- the Padres' Fernando Tatis (back) -- expected to miss the remainder of the season.

Rizzo went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer and three walks in a win over Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Rizzo launched a home run to center field in the fifth inning to plate two runs and cap Chicago's scoring on the day. The 30-year-old is putting together another fine season at the plate, slashing .283/.395/.510 with a .905 OPS, 23 homers and 77 runs batted in through 514 plate appearances.

Flores went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's victory over San Francisco.

Flores entered the game with a lifetime .176 average against Madison Bumgarner but collected a pair of hits against the southpaw Sunday, including a 422-foot homer to left field in the fifth inning. The two-hit performance capped a fantastic three-game stretch against the Giants in which Flores went 8-for-13 with three home runs. The 28-year-old has been red-hot in August, batting .457 (16-for-35) in 15 games.

Goldschmidt went 2-for-3 with a double, a two-run home run, a walk and two runs scored Sunday against the Reds.

Goldschmidt delivered a two-run home run in the third inning, putting the Cardinals up 2-1. The 31-year-old first baseman pieced together a solid weekend series, going 5-for-15 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI over four contests.

Cooper went 2-for-4 with a home run, double and two RBI in Saturday's 11-4 loss to the Rockies.

The two extra-base hits were a welcome sight for Cooper's fantasy managers, who had watched the 28-year-old deliver only one double and no home runs over the previous 19 contests. The lack of recent power production dropped Cooper's OPS down to .807 for the season, but that figure still is good for first place among Marlins regulars, narrowly beating out Brian Anderson (.805). Cooper will start at first base and bat cleanup in Sunday's series finale at Coors Field, per Thomas Harding of MLB.com.

Hiura went 3-for-7 with two doubles, two RBI, two runs and a stolen base Saturday in the Brewers' 15-14 win over the Nationals in 14 innings.

The rookie continued to shine at the dish and on the bases in the Brewers' thrilling win, but he made things more difficult on Milwaukee by committing a two-out throwing error in the bottom of the 14th. Fortunately for the Brewers, Junior Guerra was able to strike out pinch hitter Joe Ross to end the threat. Milwaukee will continue to live with Hiura's regular lapses in the field so long as he keeps bringing life to an offense that has been lacking in reliable second-half performers aside from reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich. Hiura owns a monstrous .344/.420/.664 batting line since the All-Star break.

France will start at second base and bat sixth Sunday against the Phillies, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

As was expected when he was called up from Triple-A El Paso prior to the weekend, France has been given a trial as the Padres' everyday second baseman. He'll pick up his third straight start at the position and should end up sticking in an everyday role the rest of the way if he can deliver even a modicum of the immense production he delivered in the Pacific Coast League this season. France supplied a 1.247 OPS -- buoyed by 55 extra-base hits in 348 plate appearances -- over his 76 games with El Paso.

Votto was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a lower-back strain.

Josh VanMeter, who is starting at first base Sunday, figures to continue to get steady work there while Votto and Derek Dietrich (shoulder) are sidelined. Votto is eligible to return Aug. 25. He has not swung a bat since Thursday.

Votto (back) could end up on the 10-day injured list, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

Votto said that they should know either Sunday or Monday whether an IL stint is necessary. He has not swung a bat since Thursday and is not available off the bench for the series finale against the Cardinals.

Naylor will make his first career start against a left-handed pitcher Sunday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Naylor will hit second and play left field. The 22-year-old has collected four hits in his last seven at-bats and is slashing .308/.400/.641 with a 1.041 OPS through 15 games -- including 10 starts -- in August. He has a .241 batting average in 29 at-bats against southpaws this season.