MLB Player News

Manager Don Mattingly said Cooper underwent an MRI that revealed a mild left calf strain, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.

Cooper suffered the injury over the weekend and was sent to the IL as a result. The 28-year-old said he isn't expected to resume baseball activities for a few weeks, suggesting his stay on the shelf could last more than a month. Peter O'Brien, who has started in right field each of the past two games, looks poised to fill in for Cooper for the time being.

Arias will begin the 2019 season at High-A Lake Elsinore, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Arias will advance another rung on the minor-league ladder after playing exclusively at Low-A Fort Wayne in 2018. While Arias' .654 OPS and 29.6 percent strikeout rate over 504 plate appearances wasn't anything to write home about, his numbers were far more impressive after considering that he was the youngest full-time player in the Midwest League.

Goldschmidt went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Brewers on Sunday.

Goldschmidt extended the Cardinals' lead to 4-1 with a monster 445-foot shot to center in the fifth inning. The 31-year-old has hit safely in three straight games, with the highlight of that early season streak his three-homer barrage last Friday. With seven RBI in the season-opening series, Goldschmidt unsurprisingly already looks like one of the most pivotal components of the Cardinals lineup just four games into his tenure.

Alonso went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and an RBI in Sunday's loss to the Nationals.

The rookie hasn't yet connected on his first big-league homer, but he's done just about everything else, going 6-for-12 with three doubles and three RBI in his first three games with the Mets. Alonso's spot in the two hole gives him tremendous fantasy upside even in re-draft formats, so while there will probably be growing pains ahead, he should be a lineup fixture until big-league pitchers start to figure him out.

Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's loss to Texas.

Rizzo belted his first long ball of the 2019 campaign in the sixth inning to put Chicago ahead 8-5, but the Cubs would end up dropping the series finale. The 29-year-old slugger finished the team's opening weekend with three hits, three RBI and four walks in 11 at-bats.

Flores will start at second base and hit leadoff Sunday against the Dodgers.

Flores has never hit atop the order in his career but will get the chance Sunday. After riding the bench for two consecutive games, Flores will draw the start against right-hander Walker Buehler.

Cooper (calf) has been placed on the 10-day injured list, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Cooper was experiencing tightness in his calf and was out of Saturday's lineup. He did appear as a pinch hitter later that day, but apparently his recovery was not progressing as hoped. The 28-year-old drew two starts this season prior to the injury, going hitless in seven at-bats.

Freeman went 4-for-5 with with two doubles and two RBI as the Braves fell to the Phillies on Saturday.

Freeman had four of the Braves' ten hits and is now batting .625 through three games.

Alonso went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, one run scored and one walk during Saturday's 11-8 win over the Nationals.

Alonso followed his one-hit debut Thursday with a couple of extra-base hits Saturday as the Mets scored seven runs across the eighth and ninth innings. The 24-year-old is off to a nice start as he is 4-for-8 in his first two big-league games.

Flores is on the bench for the second straight game Saturday against the Dodgers.

Flores started on Opening Day at second base with a lefty on the mound. He's since sat twice against righties, with Ketel Marte playing second and Jarrod Dyson entering the lineup in center field on both occasions. It's possible that Flores and Dyson will be platooning this season.