MLB Player News

Escobar (hamstring) played catch and hit ahead of Friday's game against the Twins, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Escobar was expected to miss approximately two weeks after he was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a strained right hamstring, but it's encouraging to see him resume activities quickly. The 32-year-old still has several steps remaining in his recovery before he's cleared to return to game action, but he appears to be on the right track.

Muncy (back) isn't starting Friday's game against the Rockies, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Muncy will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive game due to back tightness, but he's feeling slightly better and will be available off the bench, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Albert Pujols will start at first base and bat fourth.

Segura went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in a loss to Arizona on Thursday.

Batting in the two-hole, Segura took advantage of a fifth-inning error to launch a two-run home run to get Philadelphia on the board. His ninth home run of the season, Segura has a .735 OPS in August and will continue to draw starts at the top of the lineup when healthy.

Sosa went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in an 11-7 loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Drawing the start at shortstop batting seventh Thursday, Sosa hit home run No. 4 on the season, while also adding an infield single in the second inning. Sosa has now drawn a start in four of his past five games, two of which he has collected multiple hits.

Arenado went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a loss to the Pirates on Thursday.

Arenado opened the scoring Thursday night with a first inning, two-run home run off Pirates starter Mitch Keller. The veteran third-baseman has collected just one multi-hit outing over his past nine games, while this was his first home run since Aug. 15 against Kansas City.

Muncy is not in Thursday's lineup against the Padres due to back tightness, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Muncy is expected back in the lineup Friday against Colorado, so his absence is seemingly a precaution after the team's 16-inning game Wednesday. Billy McKinney enters the lineup at first base while hitting seventh.

Sosa will start at shortstop and bat seventh Thursday against the Pirates, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Sosa will crack the lineup for the fourth time in five games, with three of his starts coming at shortstop. At this stage, Sosa may have played himself into a timeshare in the middle infield with Paul DeJong, who is sitting for the third time in five games and is slashing a meager .229/.306/.375 since the All-Star break.

Hayes isn't starting Thursday against the Cardinals.

Hayes will get a rare day off after he recorded hits in each of his last five appearances and went 5-for-20 with a triple, a double, four runs, three RBI and a stolen base during that time. Wilmer Difo will start at the hot corner and bat fifth.

Moustakas will sit against lefty Brett Anderson and the Brewers on Thursday.

The Reds have largely stuck to a platoon between Moustakas and Eugenio Suarez at third base since the former's return from a heel injury in early August. As expected, it will be Suarez handling the hot corner against a southpaw here.

Farmer will sit Thursday against the Brewers.

Farmer has handled a heavy workload at shortstop recently, as Thursday's off day will be just his third in the last 36 games. Jose Barrero will handle shortstop in his absence.