MLB Player News

White (quadriceps) is back in the lineup for Monday's game against the Orioles.

White sat for three straight games with a quadriceps issue, though he was able to serve as a defensive replacement in Sunday's contest. He'll look to wake his bat up Monday, as he's begun the year with just three hits in his first 23 at-bats.

The Nationals reinstated Bell from the COVID-19 injured list Monday.

One of 11 Nationals placed on the COVID-19 IL ahead of Opening Day, Bell will be ready to debut for Washington after completing a mandatory quarantine and passing all phases of MLB's health and safety protocol. Washington has yet to release a lineup for Monday's series opener in St. Louis, but Bell will presumably start at first base in place of Ryan Zimmerman, who had been serving as the team's primary option at the position for the first week of the season. Bell should fill the strong side of a platoon at first base, while the right-handed Zimmerman draws most of the starts versus lefty pitching.

France went 2-for-3 with two runs and was also hit by a pitch twice in a win over the Twins on Sunday.

The 26-year-old now sports a stellar .439 on-base percentage following Sunday's busy day, extending a favorable pattern he's consistently exhibited since arriving via trade from the Padres at the deadline last season. France has offered some solid power production early as well, lacing a pair of doubles and a home run across his first 41 plate appearances.

White (quadriceps) was able to serve as a defensive replacement at first base in Sunday's win over the Twins. He did not log a plate appearance.

The young first baseman had missed the last three games due to his quadriceps injury, so Sunday's appearance is a sign he may be ready to return to the starting lineup as early as Monday for the start of a four-game set against the Orioles. White's 2021 has started much like his difficult 2020 rookie campaign, as the 24-year-old is slashing .130/.167/.217 across his first 24 plate appearances.

Diaz is not in the lineup Monday against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays' heavy rotation policy won't be changing any time soon, though Diaz has managed to find himself in the lineup far more often than not. He'll sit Monday for just the second time in the season's first 10 games. Yoshi Tsutsugo will start at first base in his absence.

Bell could be cleared through the league's COVID-19 protocols as soon as Monday but will likely need another day or two afterward to get ready to rejoin the lineup, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison could all be back in action early this week provided they received clearance by Monday. The Nats could certainly use three members of their expected starting lineup back after losing five straight games and getting shut out three times in the last four, but there's no guarantee the trio is able to shake off the rust quickly. Bell should slot in as Washington's primary cleanup hitter and first baseman once he makes his season debut.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he will be careful not to overload the 35-year-old Cabrera, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Cabrera has given Arizona early production with a .944 OPS, two home runs and six RBI, but Lovullo wants to be mindful of not overextending the infielder and wearing him down. He sat out Sunday's contest after playing two consecutive games, as Josh VanMeter entered the starting lineup in his place. Cabrera started four games during the first full week of baseball and never more than two straight.

Freeman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Phillies.

Freeman's lone hit of the night came in the fifth when he tied the game on a changeup that just cleared the wall in center field. The 2020 NL MVP has just five hits in his first 30 at-bats, but four of those hits have been home runs, and he's found the long ball in each of his past three games while tallying six RBI during that span. Freeman's been keeping fantasy managers at ease with his power, and it should be only a matter of time before he gets hot and starts putting more balls into play aside from home runs.

Hoskins went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Braves.

Hoskins may have only had one hit on the night but he had plenty of good at-bats, as he saw a total of 19 pitches in his last three plate appearances. A good chunk of those came in the fourth inning during a nine-pitch sequence that ended with the 28-year-old driving a laser over the left-field wall for a home run. Hoskins has still struggled lately as he's gone 1-for-12 with the home run after he started the season with 10 hits and four RBI through the first six games.

Santana went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the White Sox.

Santana took White Sox closer Liam Hendriks deep for the game-tying homer in the ninth inning. The 35-year-old Santana also drew a walk for the first time since April 3. The first baseman has a .185/.313/.333 slash line with a homer, four RBI, four runs scored and five walks across 32 plate appearances this season.