MLB Player News

Vaughn (foot) is starting at first base and batting sixth in his return to the lineup Tuesday against the Cubs, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Vaughn has been dealing with a bruised left foot that kept him out of action for a week. He's feeling well enough to give it a go in this one, though, versus right-hander Kyle Hendricks and the crosstown rival Cubs.

Cron (back) said he doesn't expect to return to the lineup until Friday against the Athletics, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Cron will miss a fourth straight game Tuesday at Washington due to lower-back tightness and probably won't play in Wednesday's series finale either. Colorado has a scheduled team off day Thursday before opening a three-game weekend set Friday against the Athletics. Michael Toglia has been filling in at first base.

Cron (back) remains out of the lineup Tuesday at Washington.

Cron has been sidelined since last Friday because of lower-back tightness, though he was able to do some pregame work Monday and will probably try the same Tuesday. Michael Toglia is starting at first base and batting seventh versus the Nationals.

Cooper (illness) is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Rays.

Cooper will start at first base and bat third in the Marlins' series opener versus Tampa Bay after getting scratched from Sunday's series finale against the Rockies due to a mild illness. He holds a .733 OPS with 12 homers and 44 RBI through 78 games this season.

Smith is out of the lineup Tuesday versus the Rockies.

Colorado is throwing left-hander Austin Gomber, so Joey Meneses will play first base and Keibert Ruiz will take a turn as the Nationals' designated hitter. Smith has a .647 OPS this year against southpaws.

Mountcastle went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's 3-2 win over the Phillies.

Mountcastle went yard in the sixth inning for his first homer since May 24. The first baseman has gone 8-for-25 (.320) with four extra-base hits and three RBI over 10 games since he returned from a bout with vertigo. He's slashing .236/.269/.434 with 12 homers, 42 RBI, 38 runs scored and two stolen bases over 70 contests this season. Mountcastle will likely continue to compete with Ryan O'Hearn and Anthony Santander for playing time between first base and designated hitter, though all three can fit in the lineup when Santander is in right field.

Walker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Monday's 10-6 loss to the Cardinals.

Walker has hit safely in five of his last seven games, going 9-for-26 (.346) with three homers, six RBI and six walks in that span. The first baseman enjoyed an excellent June before cooling off in the first half of July. He's at a .263/.341/.518 slash line with 21 homers, 64 RBI, 54 runs scored, 30 doubles and seven stolen bases through 97 contests overall.

Goldschmidt went 2-for-5 with a a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 10-6 win over the Diamondbacks.

Goldschmidt has gone 12-for-42 (.286) over 10 contests since the All-Star break. Monday was his fifth multi-hit effort in that span. The first baseman's recent work is right in line with his season numbers, aside from a moderate dip in power. He's at a .285/.371/.473 slash line with 17 homers, 53 RBI, 63 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 97 contests this season.

Santana went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, four RBI and a walk in Monday's 8-4 win over the Padres.

Santana hit two-run blasts in the third and fifth innings, ending his 18-game power drought. He'd gone just 10-for-63 (.159) in July prior to this breakout effort. Santana is up to 11 homers, 52 RBI, 43 runs scored, 25 doubles and six stolen bases through 92 contests, and his .237/.322/.408 slash line is his best since 2019.

Casas went 6-for-10 with two home runs, a triple, two walks, five runs and four RBI while starting in all three games of the Red Sox's series with the Mets over the weekend.

After enduring a brief lull at the plate heading into the All-Star break, Casas has emerged as one of the early standouts thus far in the second half of the season. On the heels of a big weekend against New York in which he produced exactly two hits in every game, Casas is now slashing .462/.548/1.115 with five long balls and 5:8 BB:K in nine post-break contests. Casas may still receive select days off against left-handed pitching, but the young first baseman is starting to fully unlock the power and on-base skills that made him a much-ballyhooed prospect heading into the season.