MLB Player News

Walker started at first base and went 1-for-4 in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Giants.

Walker returned to the starting lineup after a day off Wednesday. He was activated off the injured list Tuesday, and the Diamondbacks are easing him back to action after he missed five weeks with an oblique strain. Walker will eventually resume his role as the team's everyday first baseman. Josh Bell, who started in place of Walker on Wednesday, moved to designated hitter Thursday.

Chaparro went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI on Thursday against the Pirates.

Chaparro's two-run blast in the first was his third of the season and provided the Nationals with an early three-run cushion. He later was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth to drive in his third run, though by that point the game was out of reach for the Nats. The rookie DH has a .233 average with eight doubles and 10 RBI since his call-up Aug. 13, while all three of his homers have come over the last eight games.

France went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 1-0 win over the Astros.

France took Bryan Abreu deep in the seventh inning to plate the only run needed for the Reds to complete the sweep of the Astros. France hit his 12th home run of the year, matching last season's total in 37 fewer games. The 30-year-old went 9-for-11 in this Astros series, becoming the third player this season with multiple hits and an RBI in three straight games against Houston.

Kavadas is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rangers.

It's lefty Cody Bradford on the bump for the Rangers, so the lefty-hitting Kavadas will begin the series opener on the bench. Brandon Drury will occupy the designated hitter slot.

Gallo isn't in the Nationals' lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.

Gallo will take a seat for Thursday's series opener after going 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Wednesday's loss to the Marlins. Juan Yepez will start at first base instead and bat third.

Harper (elbow) will start at first base and bat third Thursday against the Marlins.

Harper had to make an early exit from Wednesday's contest after getting hit in the elbow by a pitch, but his bruise won't be enough to prevent him from playing in Thursday's series opener. Over his last 10 games, the 31-year-old slugger has gone 13-for-34 with two RBI and four runs scored.

Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) has been cleared to begin baseball activities, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Encarnacion-Strand underwent surgery in mid-July to repair ligaments in his fractured right wrist. He has already been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, but the 24-year-old will hope to have a normal offseason after getting the go-ahead to ramp things up this month.

Dezenzo went 1-for-4 with two RBI on Wednesday against the Reds.

Dezenzo drew only his second start against a right-handed pitcher in the team's last seven games. Despite coming through with a two-RBI single in the sixth inning, he's struggled through his first 55 plate appearances in the majors, striking out at a 32.7 percent clip while hitting only .212.

The Rays recalled Shenton from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Shenton has a .697 OPS in 44 plate appearances during his time in the big leagues this season and has posted an .858 OPS with 20 homers this year at Durham. The lefty-hitting first baseman/designated hitter could see the occasional start against right-handed pitching.

Wade went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Wade jumped on a four-seamer from Kevin Ginkel in the bottom of the seventh and sent it into the stands for a two-run shot to pull the Giants back within two runs of Arizona. He then added a clutch two-run single in the ninth to once again cut the deficit to two runs, though his diligent effort would fall short. The long ball was Wade's sixth of the campaign, while his four RBI on the night marked a season high. It also marked the outfielder's first multi-hit performance since Aug. 23 against the Mariners.