MLB Player News

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.

Beaty is not in the lineup Sunday against the Braves, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Jedd Gyorko will start at first base and hit fifth against lefty Max Fried. Beaty is hitting .325 with two home runs, four strikeouts and five walks in 40 August at-bats.

Votto (back) remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

He'll be on the bench for a fourth straight game on account of lower-back tightness, an issue the Reds are viewing as a day-to-day concern. Considering Votto hasn't even been deployed as a pinch hitter over the past three days, a trip to the injured list remains a potential outcome for the six-time All-Star. Josh VanMeter will man first base in the series finale and will be the primary beneficiary for added time at the position if Votto ends up being placed on the IL.

Walker went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Saturday's 11-6 loss to the Giants.

Walker entered as part of a double switch in the seventh inning and clubbed his 22nd homer of the year off Giants reliever Andrew Suarez in the bottom half of the frame. The first baseman owns a .260/.348/.479 line with 56 RBI an 64 runs scored across 116 games this year.