MLB Player News
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Back in action Wednesday
Encarnacion-Strand (hand) will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's contest versus the Rangers.
Encarnacion-Strand didn't play Tuesday after leaving Monday's game following a hit-by-pitch on the right hand, but it will be just a one-game absence for the infielder. The 25-year-old is 4-for-14 with one home run in the early going this season.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Remains out of lineup
Freeman (ankle) is absent from Tuesday's lineup against Atlanta.
This is the second straight game during which Freeman is not in the lineup for the Dodgers after aggravating his right ankle at home while in the shower Monday. This is the same ankle that the 35-year-old sprained in 2024 and that has yet to completely heal. He underwent imaging and the X-rays came back negative Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. As Freeman nurses his ankle, Enrique Hernandez has the start at first base again.
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Endy Rodriguez C | PIT
Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Not in Pittsburgh lineup
Rodriguez is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rays.
Rodriguez has garnered three starts at first base and one start at catcher in the early going, but he will begin Tuesday's tilt on the bench. Enmanuel Valdez will handle first base, and Joey Bart will do the catching for Pittsburgh.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Sitting Tuesday
Encarnacion-Strand (hand) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers.
The 25-year-old departed Monday's series opener after being hit by a pitch on the right hand and will be absent from the starting nine for at least one game. Encarnacion-Strand already had X-rays come back negative and could be available off the bench, per Reds manager Terry Francona, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports. Jeimer Candelario is shifting to first base Tuesday while Santiago Espinal receives a start at the hot corner.
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Willson Contreras C | BOS
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: First day off Tuesday
Contreras is absent from the lineup in Tuesday's game versus the Angels.
Contreras is still looking for his first hit of the season, having gone 0-for-18 with eight strikeouts in the Cardinals' first four games. Alec Burleson will cover first base and Nolan Gorman will be the DH on Tuesday while Contreras regroups.
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Michael Busch 3B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Plates four in rout
Busch went 3-for-6 with a home run, two total runs and four total RBI against the Athletics in an 18-3 win Monday.
Busch was one of four Chicago players with three or more hits in the offensive onslaught. He hit the first homer of the game for Chicago, knocking a two-run shot to right-center field in the first inning. The long ball was the first extra-base hit of the season for Busch, who had gone just 4-for-18 at the plate prior to Monday's big performance.
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Giants' Wilmer Flores: Continues hot start Monday
Flores went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI in Monday's 7-2 victory over the Astros.
The 33-year-old drew his fourth consecutive start and anchored the Giants' offense as the designated hitter. Flores opened the game's scoring with an RBI single in the second inning. The veteran then cracked a 350-foot, three-run homer to the Crawford Boxes in the sixth inning to stretch the lead to 5-0. Through his first 16 plate appearances, Flores is slashing .267/.313/.867 with three homers and eight RBI.
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Pete Alonso 1B | BAL
Mets' Pete Alonso: Breaks game open with grand slam
Alonso went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, a walk and an additional run scored in Monday's 10-4 win over Miami.
Alonso broke this one wide open in the fifth inning, taking Marlins right-hander Cal Quantrill deep to plate four runs and give the Mets a 6-1 lead. Monday marked the first home run and RBI of the young season for the star slugger, who has gone 3-for-14 (.231) with four walks through four games thus far. With Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto batting in front of him, Alonso should see plenty of RBI chances in 2025.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Avoids significant injury
The Reds announced that X-rays on Encarnacion-Strand's right hand came back negative after he exited Monday's game against the Rangers in the top of the seventh inning, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
Encarnacion-Strand was pulled from the contest after being hit by a pitch on the hand in the bottom of the sixth inning, but he checked out OK after undergoing further testing. The club will presumably check on the first baseman early Tuesday before determining whether he can be penciled into the starting lineup for the second game of the series.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Exits following HBP
Encarnacion-Strand left Monday's game against the Rangers after being hit by a pitch on his right hand, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
Encarnacion-Strand is presumably headed for further testing to determine the extent of his injury, though this move could also be precautionary considering the Reds were out to a comfortable 12-0 lead. He went 0-for-2 with one walk, one run scored and one hit-by-pitch before being lifted. Jeimer Candelario will shift to first base and Santiago Espinal will enter the game at the hot corner following Encarnacion-Strand's removal.