MLB Player News

Hiura went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Twins.

The rookie took Blake Parker deep in the eighth inning, Hiura's third homer in the last eight games. He's now slashing .261/.306/.457 since his promotion, and while his 1:19 BB:K through 13 contests is worrisome, the 22-year-old is doing some damage when he does make contact.

Goldschmidt went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday against the Phillies.

Goldschmidt took Nick Pivetta deep in the first inning to record his 11th home run of the season. It was both his first homer and extra-base hit since May 12. While he's still hitting a respectable .268 and getting on-base at a strong .359 clip, his current .449 slugging percentage is nearly 80 points lower than his mark in 2018.

Votto isn't starting Tuesday against Pittsburgh due to right hamstring tightness, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Votto felt the issue crop up during Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader. The veteran first baseman doesn't expect the injury to bother him for long, however, and he's optimistic that he'll be available to pinch hit Tuesday evening, per Nightengale.

Votto isn't in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

This marks the second straight game that Votto has been out of the lineup, though there's been no word on an injury. Derek Dietrich draws the start at first base and is batting cleanup with Votto out of the mix.

Bell went 3-for-8 with a double and solo home run during both games of a doubleheader against the Reds on Monday.

With hits in both games, Bell is now on a seven-game hitting streak. He's raised his average to .340, but even more impressively, Bell's slugging .711. That's because he's amassed 18 doubles, 17 home runs and two triples to boot. Bell also has 48 RBI and 39 runs in 197 at-bats, putting himself firmly in the MVP conversation almost one-third of the way through the year.

Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Astros.

He staked the Cubs to an early lead with his first-inning blast off Gerrit Cole, but Cole Hamels couldn't make it hold up. Rizzo has now hit safely in nine straight games, slashing a blistering .486/.561/1.000 with three doubles, five homers, 10 runs and 13 RBI over that stretch.

Votto is not in the lineup for the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Pirates.

Votto went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI in the afternoon contest, but the Reds won't ask his 35-year-old legs to handle two games in one day. Derek Dietrich slides over to first base in his absence, with Jose Peraza starting at second.

Smith got the start at first base and hit second in Sunday's win over the Tigers, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored.

Playing time has been hard to come by for Smith this season thanks to Pete Alonso's emergence -- Sunday's start was his first since May 16. Despite the erratic workload, the 23-year-old has performed when called upon, slashing .340/.456/.489 in 57 plate appearances with a homer, six RBI and 13 runs. With the Mets reluctant so far to repeat last year's experiment of using him in an outfield corner, though, Smith's path to a more consistent role would require an injury to Alonso, or a trade.

Walker started at first base and went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Giants.

Walker was given a one-day break Saturday when recent callup Kevin Cron got the start. Manager Torey Lovullo said he went with Walker on Sunday because he's "still our first baseman," Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. That may be the case, but the fact remains Walker is 8-for-61 (.131) with two RBI over the last 17 games. That's as many RBI as Cron had in his one start Saturday.

Beaty went 2-for-6 with four RBI and a run scored Sunday against the Pirates.

Beaty plated a pair of runs in the fifth inning on a single to right field. He would strike again in the sixth and seventh innings, driving in two more before all was said and done. The 26-year-old is 6-for-25 with five RBI in 10 games this season with the big club.