MLB Player News

Vaughn (hand) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.

Vaughn's absence from the lineup has now been extended to four games, as he's apparently still experiencing some discomfort in his right hand, which was struck by a pitch in Friday's loss to the Angels. Over the weekend, manager Tony La Russa suggested that Vaughn might be ready to check back into the starting nine by Monday, but it's unclear if the White Sox's stance on the 24-year-old has changed since then. Consider him day-to-day heading into Wednesday's series finale with the Cubs.

Votto was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The length of Votto's expected absence is not yet clear, as the Reds have yet to announce if he's tested positive for the virus himself or is on the injured list for other reasons. The team will hope that his time out of the lineup will allow him to step back and rediscover his old form, as he's hit a miserable .122/.278/.135 through 22 games this season. Colin Moran starts at first base in Votto's absence Tuesday against the Brewers and should see an expanded role until Votto returns.

Pratto has gone 7-for-12 with a double and two homers across the last three games for Triple-A Omaha, lifting his season line to .253/323/.494 with five homers, 16 RBI and two steals.

Pratto opened this season in an ugly slump, striking out at an alarming pace, but he's tightened up his approach at the dish recently, drawing more walks and trimming that whiff rate a bit. There's still a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, but that becomes a lot easier to forgive when you consider that he's hit 41 homers and swiped 14 bags across his last 145 minor-league games. With incumbent first baseman Carlos Santana batting .159 with just one homer this year, Pratto will certainly have the opportunity to hit his way into a midseason promotion.

France went 2-for-4 in the Mariners' loss to the Astros on Monday.

France mustered the only multi-hit effort of the night for the listless Mariners, who were shut out by Jake Odorizzi and three relievers. While Monday marked the first time since April 24 that France recorded more than one hit in a game, he's by no means cooled off much, reaching safely in six of his last seven contests.

Bohm will bat second and play third base Tuesday against Texas.

Bohm had primarily hit seventh throughout the early part of the season and had never hit higher than fifth, a spot he occupied just once. His move to the second spot in the order seems justified based on his strong performance thus far this season, however, as he's rebounded from a poor 2021 campaign to hit .309/.373/.455 through 21 games. He's cut his strikeout rate to a career-best 14.9 percent while posting a 10.2 percent barrel rate.

Voit (biceps) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday.

Voit has been on the shelf for just over a week with the biceps tendon injury, so he may only need a game or two in the minors to prove his health. If Voit checks out fine during his time at El Paso, he could rejoin the Padres for the team's four-game weekend series against the Marlins. He'll likely reclaim duties as San Diego's primary designated hitter upon returning from the IL.

Smith will sit for the first half of Tuesday's doubleheader against Atlanta.

Smith survived the roster cutdown Monday, as he remained on the active roster while Robinson Cano was designated for assignment. While that should give him a safer path to regular starts, he won't start every game, especially not both halves of a doubleheader. Francisco Lindor will rest his legs as the designated hitter in this game, but Smith should return to the lineup for the nightcap.

Diaz went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 6-1 win over the A's.

Diaz was moved up to the leadoff spot for the first time in over two weeks Monday, and the decision immediately paid off as he slugged a 407-foot homer to begin the contest. He later singled to register his third multi-hit performance over his past four games. Diaz has been one of Tampa Bay's top hitters this season, slashing .306/.442/.435 with two homers, five RBI and 10 runs over 77 plate appearances.

Goldschmidt went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's win over the Royals.

The first baseman took Zack Greinke deep in the first inning, providing all of the offense in the contest. Goldschmidt now has two home runs on the year, both of which have come in the last three contests. After batting .146 over the first 11 games of the season, the 34-year old has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, hitting .450 with four extra-base hits and 10 RBI over that stretch.

Diaz isn't starting Monday's game against Oakland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Diaz started in six straight games to close out April, and he went 6-for-17 with a homer, three runs, two RBI and seven walks during that time. However, he'll now be out of the lineup for a second consecutive matchup while Taylor Walls starts at the hot corner and bats eighth.