MLB Player News

Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 19-4 loss to the Phillies.

The 28-year-old gave the Nationals a brief lead in the top of the second inning when he took Zack Wheeler deep, but the lead didn't last long in the rout. Smith only has four homers on the season, but two of them have come in the last five games, a stretch in which he's gone 8-for-20 (.400). If he can continue to string together hits and re-discover a power stroke, he could put himself on the mixed-league radar in the second half, but he has a lot left to prove -- since the end of the 2020 campaign, Smith has managed just a .243/.309/.343 slash line with 15 homers in 281 games.

Noda went 1-for-2 with a double, three walks, a run and an RBI in a 7-6 win against the White Sox on Saturday.

Noda struggled mightily during the second half of June, posting a .130/.245/.217 slash line between June 15 and June 30. However, he began July on a positive note, reaching base four times and tying a season high with three walks. Noda's .229/.384/.402 season slash line is far from exciting, but he's locked into an everyday role at first base and leads the team in runs (37) and walks (56).

Goldschmidt went 3-for-6 with a home run, four RBI and two walks across both games of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Yankees.

Goldschmidt's three-run home run in the matinee powered the Cardinals' offense to an 11-4 win. He got on base three more times in the nightcap, but St. Louis lost 6-2. After hitting .277 in June, a cool month by his standards, the first baseman is already off to a good start in July. He's slashing .289/.379/.498 with 15 homers, 46 RBI, 51 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 80 contests on the year.

Raley went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Mariners.

The Rays couldn't find a hit through five innings, but Yandy Diaz doubled and Raley homered off George Kirby in the sixth. Over his last 12 games, Raley has three homers, seven RBI and three doubles while batting .357 (15-for-42). The 28-year-old has a .280/.361/.585 slash line with 14 long balls, 33 RBI, 43 runs scored and nine stolen bases through 64 contests overall, primarily playing against right-handed pitchers.

Wade will sit Saturday against the Mets due to lower-back discomfort, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The issue doesn't appear to be too bad, with Wade potentially available to pinch hit. Wilmer Flores will start at first base Saturday,

Gurriel (face) will bat sixth and play first base Saturday against Atlanta, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Gurriel was hit in the face by a grounder during pregame warmups Thursday and missed a pair of games as a result, but he avoided serious injury. Prior to the incident, his performance had been picking up at the plate, as he managed four multi-hit games in his last six starts, but his season-long slash line remains a modest .268/.318/.399.

Clemens will sit Saturday against the Nationals.

Clemens hits the bench against lefty MacKenzie Gore. Outside of a four-game stretch in the first half of June, Clemens has sat against every lefty the Phillies have faced this season. Even while getting the platoon advantage in the vast majority of his at-bats, the 27-year-old first baseman is hitting just .232/.279/.370. Alec Bohm slides to first base Saturday, with Edmundo Sosa starting at the hot corner.

Rizzo (elbow) is starting as the Yankees' designated hitter in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against St. Louis.

After taking a pitch to the elbow Thursday, Rizzo was slated for an off day Friday before the game was postponed. After a day of rest, Rizzo will return to the lineup without missing a game. The 33-year-old first baseman is 3-for-15 with three runs scored across his last five games.

Casas isn't in the Red Sox's lineup Saturday against the Blue Jays, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi will start the game on the mound for Toronto, meaning the left-handed bat of Casas will stay put in the dugout. Justin Turner will cover first base in Casas' absence, moving Masataka Yoshida into the DH spot and Rob Refsnyder in as the starting left fielder, batting leadoff.

Cronenworth will be on the bench for Saturday's game against Cincinnati, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Cronenworth finds himself on the bench for the second time in five games after sitting just twice in the first 78 games of the season. His season is trending in the wrong direction, as he finished April with a respectable .728 OPS but recorded a .665 OPS in May and a .557 OPS in June. Brandon Dixon, who owns a .662 OPS on the season himself, will get the nod at first base.