MLB Player News

Espinal went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-3 win over the Astros.

He went back-to-back with Bradley Zimmer in the fifth inning off Justin Verlander to erase a 3-1 deficit, setting the stage for some ninth-inning heroics by Matt Chapman and Vladimir Guerrero. Espinal's defense has apparently won him the starting job at second base, but his .214/.292/.357 slash line through 14 games doesn't do much to excite.

Chavis went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against the Cubs.

Chavis drew the start at first base while hitting fifth, his first time in the lineup against a right-hander this season. He made sure that decision paid off by leading off the fourth inning with his second home run of the season. Though Chavis has been in a fairly strict platoon with Yoshi Tsutsugo at first base to begin the season, he should start to see consistent playing time if he continues to hit well. Through 32 plate appearances, Chavis has four extra-base hits, five runs scored and seven RBI while striking out just three times.

Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Hernandez spent a week and a half with the big-league club and hit .125 with two runs and two stolen bases in nine appearances. He'll head to the minors after Nick Ahmed (shoulder) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Lux (back) is starting at second base and batting ninth Friday against the Padres, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Lux was scratched from Tuesday's lineup with back tightness and also sat out Wednesday, but he'll rejoin the starting nine coming off Thursday's scheduled off day. The 24-year-old is off to a strong start to 2022 and has a .276/.405/.483 slash line with one home run, five RBI, nine runs and two stolen bases in 10 games.

India (hamstring) ran the bases ahead of Friday's game against the Cardinals, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

India has been on the injured list with a right hamstring strain for just under a week, and he's eligible to return as early as Tuesday against the Padres. The Reds haven't indicated whether they think India will be able to return following a minimal stay on the IL, but it was certainly encouraging to see him running the bases Friday.

Urias (quadriceps) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Biloxi on Saturday, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

Urias appeared in an extended spring game in Arizona on Thursday, and he's been cleared to play in minor-league games this weekend. While the Brewers haven't indicated how many rehab appearances Urias will make, it's possible that he'll join the major-league club sometime next week.

Gimenez went 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 6-3 win over the White Sox.

Gimenez posted 19 stolen bases across his first 117 major-league games over the last two years. It's been a slower start this season, as he had to settle for a part-time role at second base out of the gate. The infielder is slashing .318/.333/.545 with a home run, a triple, four RBI, three runs scored and one steal through 24 plate appearances. Gimenez should see regular playing time while Yu Chang and Owen Miller are both on the COVID-19 injured list.

Rojas (oblique) was scheduled to hit off a velocity machine Thursday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo indicated facing the machine is a step up from normal batting practice, which suggests Rojas is progressing from the Grade 2 strain suffered late in spring training. Upon his return, Rojas is expected to serve as the Diamondbacks' primary third baseman.

Hoerner went 1-for-3 with a stolen base Thursday in a loss to Pittsburgh.

Hoerner picked up his second stole base of the season in the seventh inning after grounding into a fielder's choice. He made it to third on a throwing error but was left stranded there. Hoerner has never racked up big stolen-base totals (either in the minors or majors) but certainly has potential in that area given his sprint speed, which ranks in the 90th percentile leaguewide.

Espinal is not in Thursday's lineup against the Red Sox, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

The light-hitting infielder is batting .216 with zero home runs and two steals through 37 at-bats. Gosuke Katoh is getting his first big-league start as the Jays' second baseman.