MLB Player News

Votto isn't guaranteed to return from the DL on Sunday when first eligible, Matthew Martell of MLB.com reports. "That's going to be his and the trainer's call," Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said of Votto. "Pretty significant injury he got there from the hit-by-pitch. It hit a nerve there that really has stifled him."

A later comment from Riggleman makes it seem less likely that Votto will come back Sunday. "This thing has really hung on there," Riggleman said. "He's still not right. If we were going to try to activate him today -- if he was due today -- I wouldn't be comfortable doing it. But I'm getting more and more encouraged from him and the trainers."

Bell is not in the lineup against the Brewers on Friday.

Bell will receive a breather following 14 straight starts, during which he's hit just .224/.345/.388 with a pair of home runs and five RBI. In his absence, Francisco Cervelli will set up at first base while Elias Diaz handles the catching duties.

Smith was sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.

Smith will shuttle back to the minors in order to make room for Jay Bruce (hip) on the active roster. With rosters set to expand to 40 players at the beginning of September, look for Smith to rejoin the big-league club in the near future.

Rizzo went 2-for-2 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Thursday's win over the Reds.

Rizzo continued his recent tear, as he's now homered in three straight games to get to 21 for the season. After batting leadoff for a while, it looks like the slugging first baseman has settled back into the middle of the order, and he's been producing outstanding results lately.

Bour was put on the 10-day DL prior to Thursday's game due to a left oblique strain, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Bour will be eligible to come off the shelf Sept. 2. According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Bour said he suffered this injury during his final swing of the night Wednesday, during which he went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored against the Nationals. At this point, the club has yet to offer up a concrete timetable for Bour, but he doesn't expect to miss much more than the minimum. Expect Carlos Santana to see a heavy workload at first base in Bour's absence.

Goldschmidt went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer, a double and a walk in Wednesday's win over the Angels.

It was a perfect day at the plate for Goldschmidt, as he reached base all four times, led off by his two-run blast in the first inning. The 30-year-old is red-hot entering the stretch run of the season, as he's in the midst of a 14-game hitting streak and is 29-for-70 (.414) with 12 extra-base hits and 14 RBI since the calendar flipped to August.

Bour went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the Nationals.

The former Marlin took Stephen Strasburg deep in the third inning for his 20th homer of the year and first with the Phillies. Bour isn't seeing consistent playing time behind Carlos Santana, and his .228/.345/.414 slash line on the year isn't making a strong case for a bigger role.

Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Tigers.

Rizzo was hitless until the ninth inning, when he followed Javier Baez's three-run blast with a home run of his own. The 29-year-old first baseman has now homered in consecutive games to get to 20 in a season for the sixth straight year. Rizzo appears primed for a big finish in 2018.

Santana is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Nationals, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic Philadelphia reports.

Santana, who is hitting .263/.364/.404 with two homers and seven RBI through 17 games this month, will head to the bench for what appears to be a routine day off following five straight starts. Justin Bour will man first base and hit cleanup in his stead.

Flores is out of the lineup against the Giants on Wednesday.

Flores will take a seat for just the third time this month as Dominic Smith gets a start at first base. Dating back to the start of August, Flores is hitting .318/.362/.459 with two home runs and 13 RBI. Look for him to rejoin the starting nine for Thursday's series finale.