MLB Player News

Senzel (illness) tested negative for COVID-19 but won't be cleared to play until at least Thursday, teammate Nick Castellanos said after Tuesday's game, John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Senzel hasn't seen game action since Saturday as he has been feeling under the weather, but he's thankfully tested negative for COVID-19 to this point. It's unclear if the team expects the 25-year-old to be fully cleared for Thursday, but it's apparently the earliest he might be able to take the field.

Riley isn't in the lineup Tuesday against the Rays.

Riley went 2-for-14 with a solo home run and five strikeouts as he started in each of the first four games of the season for Atlanta. However, he'll take a seat as Johan Camargo gets the nod at the hot corner Tuesday, batting seventh.

Anderson and the rest of his teammates won't play again for the rest of the week due to the team's COVID-19 outbreak, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Roughly half of the Marlins' roster has tested positive for the virus. It's not clear whether or not Anderson is part of that group, but all of the team's games through Sunday have been postponed, so he won't be taking the field even if healthy. Miami's next scheduled game is set for Tuesday against the Phillies.

Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-4 in Monday's 6-2 loss to San Diego.

This was Vargas' third appearance and first start of the season. All three appearances have come at first base. Prior to 2020, Vargas played mostly middle infield and some third base, but a productive summer camp has manager Torey Lovullo looking to get him in the lineup wherever possible. Vargas is 2-for-7 with a run scored in 2020.

Kieboom is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.

Kieboom is on the bench for the third time in four games to begin the season, but it's worth noting that he's been nursing a groin issue that has rendered him unable to play the field for now. The rookie is still available to serve as a designated hitter, but because the Nationals prefer to use Howie Kendrick in that capacity, at-bats have been hard to come by for Kieboom. At least until the Nationals are more comfortable with Kieboom's health, Asdrubal Cabrera looks primed to serve as the team's top option at the hot corner.

Suarez went 0-for-11 with a walk and four strikeouts while starting all three games of the Reds' season-opening series against the Tigers.

Suarez's availability for the start of the season looked to be in jeopardy after he required right shoulder surgery in January, but baseball's four-plus-month hiatus allowed him to enter summer camp at full health. The 29-year-old still appeared to be rusty against Detroit, but after a 49-homer 2019 season, he'll have a long leash as he looks to escape the slump. Suarez will remain in the lineup for Monday's series opener against the Cubs, slotting in as the No. 3 hitter versus southpaw Jon Lester.

Senzel (illness) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.

Senzel fell ill prior to Sunday's series finale with the Tigers and was scratched from the lineup, and it appears he's still feeling under the weather 24 hours later. Phillip Ervin will draw the start in Senzel's stead, slotting in as the Reds' leadoff man and center fielder.

Escobar went 1-for-12 with five strikeouts while starting in the first three games of the Diamondbacks' season-opening series with the Padres.

The Padres' pitching staff has gotten the better of the Diamondbacks' hitters thus far in the four-game set, as Arizona scored only six runs in total through three contests. Escobar's slow start looms larger than normal in an abbreviated campaign, but his outstanding production over his prior one and a half seasons with Arizona should give fantasy managers faith that he'll heat up sooner rather than later.

Riley went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 14-1 win over the Mets.

Riley stretched the Braves' lead to 12-1 with his sixth-inning long ball, his first of the season. The 23-year-old is expected to share third-base duties with Johan Camargo during the 2020 campaign.

Machado went 0-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Machado was intentionally walked by Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel in the seventh inning, and proceeded to work a double-steal with Fernando Tatis. While Machado only picked up five stolen bases in 2019, the Padres have shown a willingness to run rampant on the basepaths with seven steals as a team through three games in 2020. Machado may not be a big part of that, but it could give a slight boost to his RBI count down the line.