MLB Player News

Freeman went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and three total runs scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the Giants.

Freeman has powered up late in the season with three homers over his last four games. He's hitting .310 in September with four homers and eight doubles across 26 games, giving him 29 long balls and 59 two-baggers for the season. The first baseman has added an impressive .334/.412/.572 slash line with 102 RBI, 131 runs scored, 23 stolen bases and two triples through 159 contests overall.

Encarnacion-Strand went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 19-2 win over the Cardinals.

Encarnacion-Strand launched his homer as part of the Reds' seven-run fourth inning. It was one of the team's six home runs in the contest. The rookie slugger has gone deep 13 times, including seven times over his last 10 games. Encarnacion-Strand is now slashing .274/.328/.488 with 37 RBI and 20 extra-base hits through 232 plate appearances.

Kirilloff is absent from the lineup Friday at Colorado.

Donovan Solano will play first base and bat leadoff as the Twins take on Rockies left-hander Ty Blach. Kirilloff, a left-handed hitter, has slashed just .125/.232/.250 in 56 plate appearances versus southpaws this year.

Schanuel (knee) is back in the lineup Friday against the Athletics.

Schanuel will start at first base and bat leadoff versus left-hander Ken Waldichuk after missing two straight games because of knee tightness. The 21-year-old has slashed .284/.407/.343 since being promoted to the majors in mid-August, reaching base in all 27 games that he's appeared in so far.

Choi isn't in the Padres' lineup Friday against the White Sox.

Choi still has yet to record a hit through 14 games with the Padres, and his offensive struggles will keep him out of the lineup Friday. Garrett Cooper will start at first base and bat sixth.

Diaz (hamstring) is back in the lineup Friday against the Blue Jays.

Diaz will serve as the Rays' designated hitter and leadoff man after missing two straight games because of right hamstring tightness. Isaac Paredes is playing first base Friday with Osleivis Basabe covering third.

Pratto is absent from the lineup Friday versus the Yankees.

Salvador Perez will start at first base and Logan Porter will do the catching as the Royals face off against left-hander Carlos Rodon. The left-handed-hitting Pratto went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Thursday's series finale versus the Tigers and carries a disappointing .228/.306/.352 season slash line.

Votto isn't in the Reds' lineup Friday against the Cardinals.

Votto will be on the bench for the second straight game after collecting hits in two of his last three contests. Christian Encarnacion-Strand will get the nod at first base instead and bat fourth.

Calhoun is absent from the lineup Friday versus the Tigers.

Detroit is sending left-hander Joey Wentz to the mound, so Jose Ramirez will take a turn in the DH role as Tyler Freeman covers third base. Calhoun has gone 9-for-46 (.196) in limited action against southpaws this year.

Goldschmidt (back) is starting at first base and batting second Friday against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Goldschmidt has sat out the Cardinals' last two games while dealing with back tightness, but the issue seems to have subsided ahead of Friday's contest. The 36-year-old first baseman has been held hitless (0-for-8) over his last three games.