MLB Player News

Suarez will occupy the short side of a platoon with Mike Moustakas at third base for now, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The Reds' default lineup early in the season featured Moustakas at third base and Suarez at shortstop, but Suarez fared poorly enough at that position that the team evidently no longer views him as a viable option there now that Moustakas is back from an extended absence due to a heel contusion. Considering that Suarez has slumped to a 70 wRC+ this season and had a barely above-average 104 wRC+ last year, it's no surprise that the Reds don't feel the need to keep him in an everyday role. He bats right-handed while Moustakas hits left-handed, so a platoon looks like a natural setup that the Reds could stick to down the stretch.

Anderson is out of the lineup Friday against the Rockies, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Anderson started the past three games and will take a seat while mired in a 2-for-15 slump. Isan Diaz will start at the hot corner Friday in his place.

Davis is not in the lineup Friday against the Phillies, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Davis started three of the past four games and will take a seat Friday. Jonathan Villar will work at the hot corner in his absence.

Suarez is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.

Mike Moustakas (heel) returns from a lengthy absence and will start at third base in Suarez's place. Early in the season, the Reds regularly started Suarez at shortstop and Moustakas at third, but Suarez looked overmatched at the position and hasn't started there since May 29. Whether or not that alignment will be an option now that Moustakas is back is not yet clear. If it's not, Suarez could see his playing time substantially reduced. That's arguably something that should be happening already given that he owns a .177/.260/.379 slash line on the season, though he does have a much better .800 OPS over his last 15 games.

Moustakas (heel) was activated off the 60-day injured list Friday and will bat fifth and play third base against the Pirates.

A heel contusion had kept Moustakas on the sidelines since mid-May, but he's finally ready to go after going 5-for-14 with a homer over four rehab appearances. The 32-year-old hit .241/.337/.437 in 28 games prior to suffering the injury, with his 105 wRC+ representing a small step back from the 109 wRC+ he produced last season. He's expected to fill the large side of a platoon with Eugenio Suarez down the stretch.

Wisdom is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.

The stretch run for the Cubs will be all about auditioning players to see who deserves to be part of the club's future. Wisdom has made a strong case for himself in his 62 games already this season, homering 16 times while slashing .272/.335/.572, though his 37.9 percent strikeout rate casts doubt on the sustainability of that line. He looks set to continue featuring frequently over the final two months following the team's moves at the trade deadline, though it will be Frank Schwindel and Matt Duffy who start at the infield corners Friday.

Riley went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and a strikeout as Atlanta defeated St. Louis, 8-4 on Thursday.

After getting out in his first three at-bats, Riley homered in the eighth off Giovanny Gallegos to tie the game and then singled in the ninth to continue a two-week hot stretch that's seen the third baseman go 22-for-55. The 24-year-old is now slashing .292/.372/.525 with 24 home runs. 58 runs and 67 RBI.

Suarez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 7-4 win over the Pirates.

Suarez slammed a three-run homer in the second inning off Wil Crowe, extending the early lead to four runs. His 22 homers are tied with Joey Votto for most on the Reds. The 29-year-old has a hit in each of his last six games, with three long balls in that span. On the season, he is slashing a poor .177/.260/.379 in 438 plate appearances. This is the first time in his career he has consistently hit below the Mendoza Line.

Suarez, who is batting eighth Thursday night against the Pirates, has been working to improve against high fastballs, a particular weak point of his this season, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Suarez is at risk of losing playing time once Mike Moustakas returns from the IL, as Kyle Farmer and Jonathan India have been playing too well to sit, especially with Farmer being a better defensive option than Suarez at shortstop.

Castro isn't starting Thursday's game against the Reds.

Castro has gone 0-for-8 with a walk and five strikeouts across the last two games, and he'll get a chance to reset in Thursday's series opener. Hoy Park will start at the keystone and lead off.