MLB Player News

Votto (knee) will man first base and bat second against the Diamondbacks on Friday.

As expected, Votto will be back in action after missing the past two games following a knee injury he sustained Monday. He benefited from the Reds having a scheduled off day Thursday, and he appears ready to go for this weekend's three-game set.

The Marlins traded Bour to the Phillies on Friday in exchange for McKenzie Mills, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Phillies will also receive cash. Carlos Santana is currently the starter at first base for Philadelphia and has a .219/.356/.402 slash line and 17.9 percent walk rate, while Bour has posted a similar .227/.347/.412 slash line with 19 home runs. The 30-year-old will likely be a bench option most nights, unless the Phillies opt to utilize a platoon situation at first base.

Bell went 1-for-4 with a walk, a home run and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the Giants.

He went back-to-back with Elias Diaz against lefty Andrew Suarez in the second inning. It was Bell's first home run against a left-handed pitcher this season and just the ninth of his career from the right side of the plate. Bell returned to action Wednesday after spending time on the DL with an oblique strain.

Bell went 0-for-4 with an RBI groundout and walk in Wednesday's win over Colorado.

He stranded three baserunners but made a fine defensive play in the fourth inning against the Rockies. The game was Bell's first since July 27, when he went on the disabled list with an oblique injury. It remains to be seen whether the switch-hitter will start Thursday against lefty Andrew Suarez. Bell is hitless in two at-bats with a strikeout versus the southpaw.

Alonso went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double and four RBI in Triple-A Las Vegas' 9-6 win over Iowa on Tuesday.

Alonso went deep for the third time in four games and notched his third career four-hit performance after singling in his final at-bat of the afternoon. After hitting just .165 through his first 26 games in the Pacific Coast League, Alonso has adjusted impressively since late July. In his subsequent 17 contests, the first baseman has supplied a 1.170 OPS while homering six times and driving in 24 runs.

Bell (oblique) was activated from the 10-day disabled list as expected Wednesday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic Pittsburgh reports.

Bell will wind up missing just over the minimum with an oblique strain. Prior to the injury, he had hit a solid .329 with an .868 OPS over his last 25 games. Jose Osuna was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move.

Hiura is 4-for-23 with six strikeouts and one walk over his last six games for Double-A Biloxi.

His batting average has dipped from .302 to .286 over this mini slump, but while his .778 OPS may not meet the expectations of his dynasty-league owners, he has still been 21 percent better (121 wRC+) than the average Southern League hitter. Hiura figures to finish out the season with the Shuckers, receive an invite to big-league spring training, and then get assigned to Triple-A at the outset of the 2019 season. Milwaukee's acquisition of Jonathan Schoop, who is under team control through the 2019 season, at this year's trade deadline will allow the Brewers to hold Hiura down next season until he forces their hand.

Votto (knee) is expected to be in the lineup Friday against Arizona, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Votto aggravated a knee injury during Monday's game and was withheld from the starting lineup Tuesday and Wednesday. He will receive additional rest during the club's scheduled off day Thursday before likely returning to the fold for Friday's series opener. Brandon Dixon is set to make another start at first base in Votto's place Wednesday.

Dixon will start at first base and bat seventh Wednesday against the Mets.

Dixon will enter the starting nine for the fifth time in seven games with everyday first baseman Joey Votto still battling a sore knee. The Reds don't believe Votto's injury is anything worrisome and could bring their star back in the lineup as soon as Friday's series opener against the Diamondbacks, which would result in Dixon fading back into a utility role.

Votto (knee) is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Mets.

The Reds will hold Votto out for the second straight day with the sore right knee, though there hasn't been any indication from the team that its franchise player's condition has worsened since he first suffered the injury Monday. He'll benefit from a scheduled off day Thursday and could rejoin the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Diamondbacks. Brandon Dixon, meanwhile, will start at first base for the third time in four games with Votto on the bench.