MLB Player News

Steer went 3-for-3 with a walk, a solo homer and two additional RBI in Monday's loss to the Orioles.

The Reds offense fell flat Monday, but Steer was the lone bright spot, as he notched his sixth three-hit game of the season and drove in all three of Cincinnati's runs. Over his past nine games, Steer is slashing .344/.462/.688 with three home runs, nine RBI, two stolen bases and five runs scored. His current hot streak has bumped his season slash line up to .282/.368/.493, and the 25-year-old is quickly emerging as a quality offensive threat in the big leagues.

Smith went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Monday's loss to the Mariners.

The first baseman took Luis Castillo deep in the second inning as part of an early offensive surge for the Nats that fizzled out. Consistency remains an issue for Smith -- Monday's performance snapped a 3-for-30 slump over his prior eight games that featured zero RBI or runs. On the season, the 28-year-old is slashing a tepid .259/.331/.325 with only three homers and 18 RBI in 74 contests.

Freeman went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run and an RBI against Houston in a loss Sunday.

Freeman came into the contest having been stuck on 1,998 career hits for the past two days. He doubled to left field for knock No. 1,999 in the sixth inning and reached 2,000 hits on an RBI double in the eighth. Freeman is one of just six active players to reach the 2,000-hit milestone, joining Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus and Andrew McCutchen. Among that group, Freeman is having by far the best campaign, slashing .317/.397/.549 with 14 homers, 48 RBI, 62 runs, 10 thefts and a league-leading 27 doubles.

The Rockies reinstated Cron (back) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Back spasms sent Cron to the injured list May 15, and he now returns to the active roster after two rehab games in rookie ball. Cron was slashing .228/.277/.426 prior to getting hurt, and he'll presumably return to his everyday role at first base. Michael Toglia was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move.

O'Hearn isn't in the Orioles' lineup Monday against the Reds, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

O'Hearn's bat has cooled off considerably lately, as he's just 3-for-18 (.167) with a home run and five strikeouts across his last five games. He'll get a breather Monday while Anthony Santander fills in at first base, moving Aaron Hicks into right field.

Colorado optioned Toglia to Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday.

C.J. Cron (back) has been activated from the injured list in a corresponding move and will reclaim the Rockies' everyday first base gig. Toglia, 24, carries a weak .124/.240/.217 batting line in 10 games (25 plate appearances) this season at the MLB level.

Votto is out of the lineup Monday at Baltimore.

Kevin Newman will cover first base and bat leadoff versus the Orioles and left-hander Cole Irvin. Tyler Stephenson is serving as the Reds' designated hitter and batting seventh. The left-handed-hitting Votto boasts a 1.213 OPS in 23 plate appearances since returning June 19 from offseason rotator cuff surgery, but he will probably continue to sit against certain southpaws.

Alonso went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's loss to the Phillies.

A two-run single in the third inning got the Mets on the board before Alonso took Jose Alvarado deep for a solo shot in the seventh. In seven games since making a stunning early return from a wrist injury, the first baseman has gone just 5-for-28 (.179), but four of the hits -- two doubles and two homers -- have gone for extra bases.

Naylor went 2-for-5 with a double and a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Brewers.

Naylor got the Guardians on the board with a solo blast to right center off Corbin Burnes in the second inning. The long ball was just his second home run in June, but he's been swinging a hot bat over the course of the month, slashing .368/.397/.517 with 17 RBI, 11 runs and a 3:13 BB:K in 21 games since June 1. He now stands at 57 RBI for the year, which is currently fifth-most in baseball and the most by a Cleveland first baseman through just under 70 games since Jim Thome had 60 RBI in 1998.

Solano went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a walk in Sunday's win over the Tigers.

Solano kicked off the scoring after he got a hold of a hanging sweeper from Michael Lorenzen and sent it over the left field wall. Solano now has all three of his home runs this year over his last 13 games, a span during which he also boasts an impressive 12:7 BB:K. The 35-year-old has been one of the Twins' best hitters this season, slashing .277/.381/.397 with 16 extra-base hits, 19 RBI, 18 runs scored and a 26:45 BB:K over 215 plate appearances. He continues to hit toward the top of the order versus lefties but has not been able to maintain a consistent spot against righties.