MLB Player News

Rodgers (back) isn't starting Thursday against the Phillies.

Rodgers was removed from Wednesday's lineup against Philadelphia due to back soreness, and he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight game. Alan Trejo will start at the keystone and bat eighth.

Chavis will start at first base and bat fifth in Thursday's game against the Brewers.

The 26-year-old had mostly served as a short-side platoon player for the Pirates through the first two weeks of the season, but the recent moves of Cole Tucker (illness) to the COVID-19 injured list and Kevin Newman (groin) to the 10-day injured list may result in the 26-year-old picking up more work against right-handed pitching. Chavis will be included in the lineup for the sixth time in seven games Thursday, despite going 0-for-14 over his last four starts.

India is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres.

After a stint on the injured list due to a hamstring issue, India was activated Tuesday and started at second base in both of the Reds' last two games, going 2-for-9 with a double and a run scored between those contests. With the Reds and Padres concluding their series with a day game after a night game, India will receive some routine maintenance. Brandon Drury fills in for India at the keystone.

Merrifield went 1-for-3 with two RBI in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the White Sox.

Merrifield hit an RBI single in the sixth and tied the game at 3-3 with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. He's hit safely in three of the last four contests, but he's just 3-for-18 in that span. Manager Mike Matheny has shuffled his lineup a bit since Opening Day, with Merrifield now hitting second against right-handed pitchers, which could allow him a few more chances to generate RBI. He's slashing .136/.171/.167 with four RBI, two runs scored, three stolen bases and two doubles through 16 games.

Drury went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the loss to the Padres on Wednesday.

Drury singled in the first inning before going deep off Dinelson Lamet in the bottom of the ninth. The home run was his third of the campaign and the multi-hit effort was his second in three games. The 29-year-old looks set to see his most at-bats since he had 447 with the Blue Jays in 2019.

Rodgers was scratched from lineup Wednesday against the Phillies due to back soreness.

Rodgers is mired in an 0-for-17 slump and was in Colorado's initial lineup for Wednesday, and it's unclear when the back issue cropped up. Ryan McMahon was scheduled for a day off but will instead start at third base, pushing Alan Trejo to the keystone.

Ibanez isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Astros.

Ibanez will get a chance to rest after going 2-for-5 with a strikeout in his last two appearances. Brad Miller will start at the hot corner and bat ninth.

Espinal isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Espinal is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak in which he's gone 7-for-17 with two homers, two doubles, five RBI and four runs. He'll get a day off while Gosuke Katoh starts at the keystone and bats eighth.

Torres went 1-for-4 with a triple and three RBI in Tuesday's 12-8 victory over Baltimore.

Torres started at DH and got plenty of value out of his lone hit of the game, stroking a bases-clearing triple in the seventh inning. It was the infielder's first triple since his rookie 2018 campaign. Torres has gotten at least one hit in each of his past five games and is slashing .462/.500/.692 with four RBI over that span.

Urias (quadriceps) played nine innings at third base and went 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored Tuesday in his rehab appearance for Double-A Biloxi.

Tuesday's game was the third of Urias' rehab assignment, with the 24-year-old going 2-for-12 with a double and a pair of walks over that stretch. The Brewers could send Urias to Triple-A Nashville to pick up more plate appearances, but he's seemingly on track to return from the 10-day injured list by the early portion of next week.