MLB Player News

Cooper (calf) took batting practice on the field Monday, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Cooper has been on the shelf all month after suffering a left calf strain during the Marlins' season-opening series. While he remains without a concrete return date, the 28-year-old is finally starting to make tangible progress in his recovery, as he also started a running progression Monday.

Bour is not in the lineup Monday against the Rangers.

Mike Trout returns from a groin strain, but only as a designated hitter, pushing Albert Pujols to first base. Bour is hitting just .186 on the season but has a hit in five straight contests.

Votto is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers.

Votto will receive his second day off of the season after previously resting April 7 against the Pirates. Over his five starts since that time, Votto has gone 5-for-18 with four runs and an RBI. Kyle Farmer will swap in for Votto at first base as the Reds look to get another right-handed bat in the lineup to counter Dodgers southpaw Clayton Kershaw.

Guerrero went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI for Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.

The 20-year-old is doing his best to prove to the Jays front office that he deserves to be in the majors already, slashing .500/.583/.900 through three games at the highest level of the minors with a 2:0 BB:K. Toronto called up Eric Sogard to replace Lourdes Gurriel over the weekend, but the next time they dip into the Triple-A ranks for reinforcements, it will almost certainly be to begin Guerrero's big-league career.

Cron went 1-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and walk in Sunday's win over Detroit

Cron drove in a run during the first inning on a groundout to second, and he belted a two-run shot to left in the third to extend the Twins' lead to three. The 29-year-old was just 1-for-13 over his previous four contests entering the day, so perhaps Sunday's blast will get him back on track at the dish.

Bell went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, one walk and two RBI against Washington on Sunday.

He's lifted his batting average to .314 and looks more like the promising rookie from 2017 than the disappointing hitter from last season. Bell has nine extra-base hits in 14 games, including three homers: He didn't collect his ninth extra-base hit until his 35th game in 2018. Pittsburgh's offense has struggled to score runs, but not because of Bell. As a result, it wouldn't be surprising to see opponents begin to pitch around the 26-year-old in the coming games.

Walker went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's 8-4 win over San Diego.

After two homers in his first two games, Walker was just 5-for-36 in April prior to Sunday's breakout game. He owns a .923 OPS in 52 plate appearances after posting just a .614 OPS in 53 plate appearances last season.

Abreu went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two stolen bases Sunday against the Yankees.

Abreu tacked on an insurance run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the White Sox a 5-2 lead. The 32-year-old slugger has struggled at the plate through the first weeks of the season and is batting .200 over 14 games, although he's clubbed three homers and sits on 10 RBI. The career .293 hitter will look to turn things around heading into Monday's series opener against the Royals.

Chief baseball officer Derek Falvey didn't provide an indication that Kirilloff (wrist) was close to returning from the 7-day injured list at Double-A Pensacola when asked about the matter Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Rather than specifying a timeline for Kirilloff's return, Falvey merely noted that the Twins had always expected the 21-year-old to miss the first few weeks of the season due to the wrist injury he sustained in spring training. Until word surfaces that Kirilloff is ready to play in simulated games, a return to Pensacola won't be forthcoming.

Flores is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against San Diego.

Flores went 2-for-11 with a double as he started the first three games of the series, but he will take a seat for the finale. Ildemaro Vargas will start at the keystone and bat second while Ketel Marte is in center field.