MLB Player News

Votto went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's win over the Cubs.

Votto's power surge over the last two weeks has been incredible and he went yard for a franchise-record sixth straight game Thursday, a span during which he's racked up eight homers and 14 RBI. The veteran first baseman is riding a seven-game hitting streak and has slashed .329/.453/.753 with 10 homers, 24 RBI, 17 runs scored and an 18:26 BB:K across 103 plate appearances this month.

Alonso went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday against Atlanta.

Alonso took Drew Smyly yard in the fifth inning to record his 23rd homer of the season. He's produced at a high level since the All-Star break, racking up six homers, 13 RBI and nine runs scored in 12 starts. For the season, Alonso has a .262/.338/.512 line across 370 plate appearances with 62 RBI and 47 runs scored.

France, who went 2-for-4 with a run in a loss to the Astros on Wednesday, owns a .375 average, .913 OPS and minuscule 9.4 percent strikeout rate in the 53 plate appearances covering his last 12 games.

France also has multi-hit efforts in exactly half of those contests, with the only possible quibble with his numbers being the fact he only has three extra-base hits (two doubles, one home run) during that span. Nevertheless, the hot-hitting infielder now owns a rock-solid .278/.356/.421 slash line on the season, and his respective .331 and .333 averages with men on base and men in scoring position have helped lead to 44 RBI over 93 games.

Guerrero went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and a walk Thursday against the Red Sox.

Guerrero launched a three-run shot off Boston reliever Phillips Valdez in the fifth inning to extend Toronto's cushion to 9-0. It was the 33rd home of the year for Guerrero, but his first in the last seven games. Despite that brief power outage, Guerrero is hitting a league-leading .328 with a 1.086 OPS in 424 plate appearances this season and will take a six-game hitting streak into Friday's home matchup with Kansas City.

Tellez went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a double, two RBI and three runs scored during Thursday's win over the Pirates.

Tellez cranked an opposite-field 410-footer against Chris Stratton in the seventh to further extend Milwaukee's lead. He also hit an RBI double in the sixth, which would have been a homer in 23 ballparks. The 26-year-old now has four long balls and two doubles while batting .378/.467/.757 across 15 games since recently joining the Brewers.

Cron (groin) is not in the lineup Thursday against the Angels.

Cron will be sidelined for the second straight contest after being removed from Tuesday's game with groin discomfort. Rio Ruiz will start at first base Thursday in his absence.

Hoskins was pulled from Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Nationals after tweaking his left groin, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The 28-year-old appeared to suffer the injury during the fifth inning when he began limping while running out a grounder. He was on the bench for Game 1 of the twin bill and went 2-for-3 with a solo homer in the nightcap before picking up the groin issue. The severity of the injury remains unclear, and Hoskins should be considered day-to-day heading into Friday's series opener against the Pirates.

Rizzo was traded from the Cubs to the Yankees in exchange for Kevin Alcantara and Alexander Vizcaino (arm) on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Cubs had been in talks with the Red Sox about a trade involving Rizzo leading up to Friday's deadline, but he'll head to their AL East rival. The 31-year-old spent the last 10 seasons with the Cubs, and he's slashed .248/.346/.446 with 14 homers, 41 runs and 40 RBI in 92 games to begin the 2021 campaign. He'll add another strong left-handed bat to the Yankees' lineup after they acquired Joey Gallo from the Rangers on Wednesday, and he should take over as the team's starting first baseman.

Hoskins exited the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Nationals with an apparent injury, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Hoskins appeared to be limping while running out a grounder in the bottom of the fifth inning, and he was replaced defensively in the top of the sixth. It's not clear what injury the first baseman could be dealing with or whether he'll be forced to miss additional time. Prior to his departure, Hoskins went 2-for-3 with a solo home run.

Mountcastle isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Tigers, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Mountcastle will get a chance to reset after he went 1-for-12 with a walk and four strikeouts across the last three games. Trey Mancini will start at first base while DJ Stewart serves as the designated hitter.