MLB Player News

Cooper went 1-for-1 with a two-run homer in Thursday's loss to the Rockies.

Cooper started the day on the bench after going 2-for-26 in his last six games. However, he pinch hit for Nick Fortes with two outs in the ninth and blasted a two-run, game-tying home run off Pierce Johnson. It's Cooper's fifth homer of the season and just his second since April 9. He's now slashing .239/.280/.403 with 19 RBI through 143 plate appearances this year.

Hall (thumb) could start a rehab assignment early next week, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Hall has passed all of the necessary tests in his recovery from April 12 surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb. He's on the 60-day injured list but can be activated by the Phillies as early as June 5. Kody Clemens and Alec Bohm are currently sharing starts at first base for the reigning NL champs. Clemens has been swinging a hot bat lately but would probably be at the biggest risk of losing playing time upon Hall's return.

France (wrist) is starting at first base Thursday against Oakland.

France took a pitch to the wrist Tuesday, which forced him to miss Wednesday's game. He will return to Seattle's lineup looking to build on his recent success, as he is 3-for-6 with a homer and three runs scored over his last two games.

Manager Bud Black said Thursday that Cron (back) is expected to begin taking swings soon, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Cron has moved along more slowly than expected in his recovery from a bout of lower-back spasms, which sent him to the 10-day IL exactly 10 days ago. A return in early June is the best-case scenario. Michael Toglia and Mike Moustakas have been sharing starts at first base in Cron's absence.

Pasquantino went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a walk in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Tigers.

Pasquantino had gone 11 games without a multi-hit effort entering Wednesday, a span in which he hit an awful .095 (4-for-42) with two home runs and a 3:9 BB:K. In terms of breaking out of a slump, Wednesday was a solid first step for Pasquantino, who was one of the Royals' most consistent hitters early in the season. He's still slashing .262/.347/.481 with nine homers, 24 RBI, 22 runs scored and 14 doubles through 50 contests.

Cooper is out of the lineup Thursday afternoon at Colorado.

Cooper went 0-for-5 with a strikeout Wednesday and is slashing just .233/.275/.376 in 142 plate appearances for the year. Yuli Gurriel will play first base Thursday and Jorge Soler will serve as the Marlins' designated hitter.

Diaz (personal) returned to the Rays on Thursday but is not in the starting lineup for their series finale against the Blue Jays, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Diaz was excused from the club Wednesday for a private family matter. The hot-hitting 31-year-old should be available off the bench Thursday and be back in a starting role this weekend against the Dodgers. Luke Raley is playing first base and batting seventh in Thursday's matinee.

Bohm went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Diamondbacks.

Bohm got the Phillies on the board with a two-out RBI single off Kevin Ginkel in the sixth inning before ending the game with a walk-off base hit off Jose Ruiz in the 10th. It's Bohm's first multi-hit game since May 15 -- he'd gone 4-for-26 over his last seven contests. Overall, the 26-year-old has been solid this season, slashing .264/.320/.390 with five home runs and 35 RBI through 200 plate appearances, and he's taken over as the Phillies' regular first baseman with Rhys Hoskins (knee) out for the year.

Goldschmidt is absent from the lineup Thursday in Cincinnati, 101 ESPN St. Louis reports.

Goldschmidt had served as the designated hitter the previous two days and now is out of the lineup entirely for Thursday's series finale. The Cardinals are resting several regulars for the afternoon tilt.

Moiuntcastle went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 9-6 win over the Yankees.

His solo shot off Nestor Cortes in the fourth inning got the Orioles on the board. Mountcastle has 11 homers on the season, including three in the last eight games, but after a hot start to May he's batting only .146 (6-for-41) over the last 11 contests.