MLB Player News

Votto went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Cardinals.

Votto gave himself a nice birthday present by extending the Reds' lead with a solo home run to right in the eighth in his first game back since Aug. 23. Votto hasn't hit the ball a ton, evidenced by his .201 batting average, but he's still hitting for power, as he now has 14 home runs in 52 games this season. The 40-year-old should figure to see a near-everyday role at either first base or designated hitter down the final stretch of the year. He's now hitting .201/.302/.471 with 35 RBI, 21 runs and a 20:55 BB:K in 199 plate appearances.

Montero went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Giants.

Montero has hit safely in seven of nine games in September, and three of them have been multi-hit efforts. The infielder is 11-for-28 (.393) this month with a home run, three doubles and three RBI. For the season, he's slashing .243/.289/.402 with six homers, 29 RBI, 28 runs scored and 12 doubles across 232 plate appearances. He's seeing consistent playing time between first base and designated hitter as the Rockies evaluate younger players toward the tail end of a lost season.

Torkelson went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Sunday's 3-2 win over the White Sox.

Torkelson has done much of his damage this year with the long ball, but he managed to make an impact Sunday without going deep. The youngster is off to a good start this month, batting .333 in September with six extra-base hits and nine RBI in just nine games. Torkelson seems primed to finish his second MLB campaign on a high note over the next few weeks.

Calhoun went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Angels.

Calhoun went yard in the second inning, but it was the only run the Guardians could manufacture against one of his former teams. The 35-year-old was solid after joining Cleveland in August, but he's gone just 5-for-31 (.161) over nine games in September. The slump has yet to cost him playing time, but the recent returns of David Fry and Josh Naylor could eventually lead to Calhoun slipping out of a near-everyday role. Calhoun is slashing .241/.325/.398 with four homers, 17 RBI, 14 runs scored and five doubles through 29 contests.

Candelario left Sunday's win over the Diamondbacks due to back tightness, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Candelario went 0-for-2 with a strikeout prior to being pulled with the injury in the bottom of the fifth inning. The 29-year-old is still being evaluated by the training staff, and he should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.

Naylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

Naylor started the previous three games but will receive Sunday off after going 3-for-10 with a home run, three walks, five RBI and a stolen base. David Fry will handle first base in the series finale versus the Halos.

Schanuel (shoulder) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

It's the second straight absence for Schanuel, who exited Friday's game with shoulder tightness. Mike Moustakas will receive another look at first base while Eduardo Escobar starts at third.

Encarnacion-Strand is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The 23-year-old has been a fixture at first base for the Reds over the past few weeks, but his playing time is poised to dip with Joey Votto (shoulder) and Jonathan India (foot) returning from the injured list Sunday. Encarnacion-Strand has a .721 OPS with six home runs in 187 plate appearances this season and should still see semi-regular action down the stretch, but his run as an everyday starter is likely at an end for the near future.

Mountcastle is out of the lineup Sunday against the Red Sox.

Ryan O'Hearn will play first base and bat cleanup versus the Red Sox and right-hander Brayan Bello. Mountcastle went 0-for-11 with four strikeouts across the first two games of the Orioles' three-game weekend series in Boston.

Votto (shoulder) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and is starting at first base Sunday versus the Cardinals, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirerreports.

Votto made two appearances on his minor-league rehab assignment and will rejoin Cincinnati's lineup after going 2-for-6 with a double and two RBI with Triple-A Louisville. The veteran first baseman should see plenty of playing time down the stretch, though he could receive regular off days in Cincinnati's crowded and talented infield.