MLB Player News

Bell went 0-for-4 against Washington on Monday, dropping his batting average to a season-low .232 in 112 at-bats.

Since starting 2018 with a six-game hitting streak, the first baseman has slashed .193/.260/.261 in his last 96 plate appearances. He's collected just seven extra-base hits, including one homer, with an .089 ISO -- well below his career mark (.181 ISO). In three seasons, Bell has hit .232 through June and .270 thereafter. The sample is small but it's possible the 25-year-old native Texan simply hits better in warm weather. He continues to bat exclusively from the cleanup spot as Pittsburgh has shown no signs of wavering with the switch hitter.

Bour (back) took batting practice Monday with the hope of returning to the lineup Tuesday, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

It seems like Bour is progressing without issue in his recovery program. He's been out of action since Saturday, though it seems like he's very close to returning to action and will not need a stint on the disabled list. Derek Dietrich will fill in for him at first base for Monday night, but monitor Bour's status closely as Tuesday's game time approaches.

Santana is starting at first base and hitting fifth Monday against the Marlins, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Santana has gotten off to an extremely slow start to the season, as evidenced by his .160/.305/.287 line with two homers through 27 games, so manager Gabe Kapler decided to drop him a few spots in the order in an attempt to get him going. This is just the second time all season Santana hasn't hit in the two hole, which is being occupied by Rhys Hoskins on Monday.

Bour (back) is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Bour will remain sidelined for a third straight game as he continues to deal with back spasms. It's still unclear when he'll return to the lineup. In the meantime, Derek Dietrich will start at first base and hit cleanup in his stead.

Alonso went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and three runs for Double-A Binghamton in the affiliate's 6-4 win over Erie on Sunday.

Alonso has cleared the fences in four consecutive games, bringing his home-run total up to seven in just 88 plate appearances this season. The 23-year-old impressed late last season in a smaller sample of games with Binghamton and has only upped the ante in 2018, producing an incredible 1.278 OPS in the Eastern League. Though Adrian Gonzalez merely represents a placeholder at first base for the big club, it's not expected that Alonso will earn an extended audition in the majors at any point in the near future, despite his immense success to date.

Bour (back) will sit out Sunday against the Rockies, Craig Davis of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Bour was scratched because of back spasms Saturday, and he'll remain out of the starting lineup Sunday with the same issue. Although the injury doesn't appear to be overly serious, it's unclear when he'll be able to return to action. J.T. Realmuto will take over at first base Sunday in his absence.

Hague joined the Nationals on a minor-league deal Friday, Syracuse.com reports.

Hague spent spring training with the Mariners but was released Tuesday. The 32-year-old has appeared in 43 major-league games in his career, but none since 2015. He has a .226/.286/.262 career line in the big leagues. He'll be little more than minor-league depth for the Nationals.

Bour was scratched from the lineup Saturday against the Rockies due to back spasms, Craig Davis of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Bour is hitting a solid .250/.357/.417 with four home runs so far this season for Miami. The severity of his back issue is not yet known. Brian Anderson will take his cleanup role Saturday while playing right field, shifting J.B. Shuck to left and Derek Dietrich to first.

Goldschmidt is not in the lineup Saturday against the Nationals.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com described it as a day off for Goldschmidt, his first of the season. Goldschmidt is striking out at an elevated clip so far in 2018 (28.4 percent), but he's hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games, bringing his slash up closer to what we would expect from the five-time All-Star. It's worth noting that all four of his home runs so far have come on the road.

Alonso went 3-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI for Double-A Binghamton in Friday's win over Erie.

It was his third straight multi-hit performance, and Alonso now boasts a ridiculous .397/.500/.730 slash line through 19 games with five homers and 14 RBI. Encouragingly, the 23-year-old is enjoying plenty of success against same-side pitching to begin 2018, with four of his five home runs coming off RHP. The sample sizes are still very small, but if Alonso can maintain more even splits than he has in the past, the Mets' No. 1 fantasy prospect could overtake Dominic Smith in the organization's eyes as their first baseman of the future given his superior power potential.