MLB Player News

Newman is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.

Wilfer Difo will step in at shortstop for Newman, who had started each of the last six games while going 6-for-23 at the dish. Following the Pirates' trade earlier this week that sent All-Star Adam Frazier to the Padres, Newman could take over as Pittsburgh's primary leadoff man versus left-handed pitching.

Moustakas (heel) could begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville early next week, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Moustakas has been on the injured list for over two months due to a right heel contusion. The 32-year-old began a rehab assignment in mid-June, but he was shut down after he experienced some soreness during a game. He's been able to take grounders recently, and he should return to game action in the coming days. While manager David Bell didn't reveal what day Moustakas' rehab assignment would begin, he could rejoin the Reds at some point late next week or next weekend.

Senzel (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Friday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Senzel has been out since mid-May due to a knee issue which eventually required a clean-up procedure. The Reds have been targeting a return in early August, which still appears possible even though he'll likely need more than just a game or two in the minors before he's considered ready to go.

Muncy went 3-for-6 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Giants.

Muncy had his fifth multi-hit game of the month and his first since July 17. He singled his first two times up and scored in the third, and he later drive in a run with a double in the seventh. The 30-year-old had been quiet over the last week, going 4-for-21 with just one extra-base hit, but he's been strong overall, slashing .276/.413/.563 with 22 homers, 61 RBI, 59 runs scored and 62:61 BB:K over 361 plate appearances.

Castro went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to Milwaukee.

It's been boom or bust for Castro -- he has just five hits in 23 plate appearances, but all five have left the yard. The 22-year-old second baseman has added seven RBI and six runs scored across nine games this season. He appears set to fill the void at the keystone left by Pittsburgh's trade of Adam Frazier to San Diego.

Riley went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Mets.

His sixth-inning blast off Tylor Megill gave Riley five homers in the last six games and 20 on the season, but it was the only offense Atlanta could produce on the night. The 24-year-old also has a seven-game hitting streak going, and the surge has boosted his slash line on the season to .287/.368/.513.

Escobar was acquired by the Brewers from the Diamondbacks on Wednesday in exchange for minor-leaguers Cooper Hummel and Alberto Ciprian, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.

Escobar was an obvious trade chip with Arizona dwelling in the NL West cellar all season, and he'll make his way to Milwaukee ahead of the trade deadline. The switch-hitting infielder has seen most of his action at third base and second base this season and over the past few years, but the Brewers biggest hole in the infield is at first. According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Escobar is expected to work at first base against left-hander starters, and he could otherwise split time at third base with Luis Urias.

Castro will start at second base and bat seventh Wednesday against the Brewers.

Rather than Wilmer Difo, the 22-year-old Castro has picked up the first two starts at second base for the Pirates since the team dealt All-Star Adam Frazier to the Padres. Though Castro has never played at the Triple-A level and has only 19 career MLB plate appearances to his name, the non-contending Pirates appear eager to give the infield prospect an extended trial in the big leagues. He profiles as more of a longer-term solution in the infield than Difo, a 29-year-old who was already outrighted off the 40-man roster once this season and looks like a utility option at this stage of his career.

The Cardinals announced that Arenado was removed in the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against Cleveland due to a bruised right forearm, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports. He went 1-for-1 with a walk before exiting the contest.

Preliminary evaluations of Arenado's forearm seemingly didn't reveal anything serious after he was struck by a pitch in the top of the fifth inning. The Cardinals were trailing by five runs at the time Arenado picked up the injury, so the team may just have been taking extra caution by pulling him from the game. Arenado will have Thursday's team off day to heal up before St. Louis hosts the Twins on Friday.

Arenado was removed in the bottom of the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against Cleveland with an apparent elbow injury, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. He went 1-for-1 with a base hit and a walk before departing.

The injury in question occurred in the top of the fifth, when Arenado was in obvious pain after being struck in the elbow by a pitch. He was able to take his base and briefly stay in the game, but after getting checked out by trainers before the bottom of the inning, he was ultimately pulled from the contest. Expect the Cardinals to provide an update on Arenado's condition after the game.