MLB Player News

Tellez is not starting Friday against the Rays.

After making seven straight starts, Tellez finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games. He's hitting a modest .241 but has a .923 OPS and three homers. Lourdes Gurriel will be the designated hitter Friday.

Alonso is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Braves, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Alonso has started the last seven games at first base and slashed .370/.452/1.037 in that stretch with five home runs, but nonetheless takes a seat on the bench Friday. Dominic Smith will grab his second start of the season at first base and bat sixth in his absence.

Guerrero (oblique) went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored, four RBI and a stolen base for Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.

Baseball's top prospect could hardly have done more to convince the Jays that he's fully recovered from the oblique strain that cut short his spring. Guerrero's big-league debut seems like it will happen in a matter of days.

Bour is not in the lineup Friday against the Cubs, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

With the game in a National League park, regular designated hitter Albert Pujols will take Bour's usual spot at first base. Bour will likely start at least one of the games over the weekend.

Alonso went 2-for-4 with a walk and two-run home run Thursday against the Braves.

Alonso took a Jonny Venters offering deep to straightaway center field in the seventh inning. It was his sixth homer of the season and fifth in as many games. The rookie has impressed through 51 plate appearances, hitting .378/.451/.911.

Tellez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Red Sox.

Tellez took Nathan Eovaldi deep in the third inning -- a monster blast into the right-field stands -- to record his third home run of the season. After being out of the lineup Tuesday with left-hander Chris Sale on the mound, Tellez returned to the lineup as the first baseman and batted fifth. Though he's striking out at nearly a 30 percent clip early on, Tellez has also shown he's capable of providing plenty of power; he holds a .310 ISO so far.

Santana went 3-for-3 with two RBI and two walks Thursday against the Tigers.

Santana reached base each time he batted Thursday, though he didn't record any extra-base hits. He's gotten off to a solid start early on, as this performance brought his on-base percentage to .521 through 48 plate appearances. His power has been a bit lacking, as indicated by a .150 ISO, though he has still been able to rack up counting stats as the team's cleanup hitter.

Walker is on the bench Thursday against the Padres.

Walker had started eight straight but had clearly cooled off after a hot start. In his last six games, he's hit .091 with a 43.5 percent strikeout rate. Wilmer Flores gets the start at first base.

Walker struck out in all four of his plate appearances Wednesday in the Diamondbacks' 5-2 loss to the Rangers.

Walker slugged three home runs in the Diamondbacks' first five games to put himself on the fantasy radar, then saw his outlook improve after his platoon mate at first base, Jake Lamb (quadriceps), landed on the injured list. Unfortunately, Walker hasn't been able to take advantage since seizing an everyday role, managing only two hits in his last 22 at-bats while striking out 10 times. The contact woes are likely to remain an issue for Walker, so if he's unable to supply power on a consistent basis, the Diamondbacks could elect to give Wilmer Flores a spin at first base. Flores has acted as the Diamondbacks' primary second baseman but isn't a great defensive fit at the position.

Olson (hand) took one-handed swings Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

He has been taking grounders and doing cardio over the past week as well, but he's not yet ready to take swings using his surgically repaired right hand. The first-base platoon of Kendrys Morales and Mark Canha will continue to operate for the next couple months while Olson is on the mend.