MLB Player News

France went 2-for-4 with a run-scoring single and an RBI double in a win over the Astros on Wednesday.

France is now slashing .444/.500/.556 in his 40 plate appearances with runners in scoring position this season following another pair of clutch hits Wednesday. The 26-year-old also pushed his season line to .302/.367/.476 with his multi-hit effort, his third of the last five games.

Diaz (hamstring) is slated to take live batting practice against Jose Alvarado (shoulder) on Thursday at Tropicana Field, the Associated Press reports.

Diaz was able to also take live batting practice Tuesday and came out of the session without setbacks, but he didn't do much running and was reportedly still feeling soreness in his right leg. The 29-year-old appears unlikely to be available for any of Tampa's remaining regular-season games, with a target of an early-postseason return for the AL East champion Rays the likely goal at this point. Juan Toribio of MLB.com also reports Diaz will test himself with what manager Kevin Cash described as "right-at-them groundballs" during the session, "just see how [his] hamstrings feel in the position of fielding a groundball and then coming up and making a throw out of that."

Naylor is not in Thursday's lineup against the White Sox.

He will head to the bench with southpaw Dallas Keuchel on the hill for Chicago. Oscar Mercado is starting in left field and batting seventh.

Cabrera is not in Thursday's lineup against the Mets.

After getting officially eliminated from playoff contention Wednesday, several of Washington's veterans are getting Thursday off. Jake Noll will start at first base and bat sixth.

Solano is not in Thursday's lineup against the Rockies.

He is in the midst of a four-game hitting streak and is hitting .353 with one home run in 68 at-bats this month. Wilmer Flores will start at second base while Austin Slater gets the nod at designated hitter.

Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to the Pirates.

Rizzo opened up the game with a solo shot to right field to put the Cubs up 1-0, but he was unable to reach base for the remainder of the night. The big lefty has homered in back-to-back contests as he now stands at a .221/.336/.415 slash line with 11 home runs, 24 RBI and 26 runs scored across 232 plate appearances.

Votto went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Brewers.

Votto let down teammate Trevor Bauer on a play at first base earlier this season, but he made up for it with his first-inning homer Wednesday, giving Bauer an early cushion. While the veteran has been good at home, Votto has been a completely different player on the road this season, slashing just .111/.209/.185 with one homer in 22 games away from Great American Ball Park.

Guerrero went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 14-1 rout of the Yankees.

Despite leaving four runners on base, Guerrero was productive in a game where five Blue Jays starters recorded multiple hits. With the second American League wild-card spot nearly clinched, Guerrero will look to continue his hot hitting through the end of the season and into the first postseason of his career.

Mountcastle went 3-for-4 in Wednesday's 9-1 loss to the Red Sox.

All three of Mountcastle's hits were singles, as were seven of the Orioles' other eight hits. The lack of extra-base power made it difficult for Mountcastle and the Orioles to create much offense against Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi. The 23-year-old Mountcastle is slashing an excellent .330/.385/.514 with five homers, 21 RBI and 11 runs scored in 31 games this year.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-5 loss to the Rays.

Smith blasted his homer to right field off Rays starter Tyler Glasnow in the fourth inning. The 25-year-old Smith is up to 10 homers, 42 RBI, 27 runs scored and a .314/.377/.615 slash line in 48 contests. He hit 11 homers in 89 games last season -- Smith has enjoyed a power surge in the abbreviated 2020 campaign.