MLB Player News

Votto (shoulder/biceps) has gone 4-for-32 with three walks and 20 strikeouts through the first eight games of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville.

Votto hasn't suffered any reported setbacks with his surgically repaired left shoulder or biceps since beginning the rehab assignment April 1, but he's clearly struggling to get his timing back at the plate. Elite plate discipline and stellar bat-to-ball skills have been foundational traits for Votto throughout his career, so it's especially troubling that he's struck out in 55.6 percent of his plate appearances at Triple-A thus far. Votto was initially expected to return from the 10-day injured list when he was first eligible April 6, but his activation looks as though it'll be delayed until he can show some semblance of progress during his rehab assignment.

Raley is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The lefty-hitting Raley will see a string of four straight starts come to an end with Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash opting to play matchups against Boston southpaw Chris Sale. Tampa Bay is going with an all-righty-hitting outfield of Randy Arozarena, Manuel Margot and Harold Ramirez from left to right.

Hall underwent surgery Wednesday to repair the UCL in his right thumb and is expected to remain out for two months.

The timetable provided by the Phillies is an approximation but offers a general idea of when Hall might be back in action. Kody Clemens and Alec Bohm have been handling first base in Hall's absence and should continue to receive the bulk of the starts at the position over the next two months. Edmundo Sosa should also see extra opportunities to cover third base on the occasions Bohm is manning first base.

Diaz (shoulder) is in the Rays' lineup Wednesday versus the Red Sox as their designated hitter and leadoff man.

Diaz was pulled from Tuesday's contest after landing on his left shoulder, but he checked out fine and is back in there a day later as the Rays try to run their record to 12-0. With Diaz at DH, Tampa Bay has Isaac Paredes at first base and Taylor Walls at third.

Steer is out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

Steer will sit Wednesday with Jason Vosler getting the start at the hot corner. The 25-year-old infielder has performed well to begin the season with a 1.000 OPS and a pair of homers over 40 plate appearances.

Gurriel will start at first base and bat fifth Wednesday against the Phillies, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

He'll be making his fourth straight start, with the lineup spot opening up by Garrett Cooper (upper leg) sitting out and Avisail Garcia (hamstring) missing his third consecutive game. Gurriel has recorded at least one hit in all six games he's played this season and is sitting on a .981 OPS.

Cooper is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Philadelphia due to upper left leg soreness, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Cooper experienced the leg injury in Tuesday's 8-4 win and was replaced by a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth inning. He should benefit from taking a seat Wednesday along with the Marlins having an off day Thursday, potentially setting the stage for Cooper to re-enter the lineup Friday versus the Diamondbacks. Yuli Gurriel will start at first base Wednesday while Cooper is out of the lineup.

Tellez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Diamondbacks.

Tellez's second home run of the season came in the eighth inning off reliever Jose Ruiz and helped give Milwaukee a six-run cushion. With a .161/.270/.387 slash line through 37 plate appearances, Tellez is off to a slow start to the 2023 season, but he doesn't appear in immediate danger of losing out on playing time while his main competition for reps at first base, Luke Voit, has struck out in half of his trips to the dish.

Montero (thumb) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

According to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post, Montero was a late scratch ahead of Tuesday's 9-6 loss to St. Louis with a right thumb injury, which he suffered during an awkward slide at home plate in Monday's 7-4 win in the series opener. The Rockies will turn to Mike Moustakas at third base Wednesday as a replacement for Montero, who is considered day-to-day.

Olson went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Reds.

His first-inning shot off Luis Cessa left Olson's bat at 118.6 mph, the highest exit velocity measured on any hit this season and the highest for Atlanta since Statcast began tracking the metric in 2015. The first baseman is slashing .319/.439/.681 through 12 games to begin the season with five doubles, four homers, nine runs and 12 RBI.