MLB Player News

Asuaje is not in the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

Asuaje has logged multi-hit performances in two of his past three starts but will be held out of the lineup against red-hot Patrick Corbin and the Diamondbacks. Jose Pirela draws the start at the keystone with Matt Szczur starting in left field.

Suarez (thumb) hit off a tee and took soft toss Saturday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.

Suarez is scheduled to continue hitting and playing soft toss Sunday as well as Monday. The third baseman said he hasn't felt any pain, which is obviously a great sign. He's closing in on a return from the disabled list, though no exact return date has been set.

Rendon (toe) is available to pinch hit Saturday against the Dodgers, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.

The third baseman is being held out of the lineup for the seventh game in a row, but it seems like the team is confident enough in his health to let him come off the bench if need be. Wilmer Difo will start at the hot corner in his place, but it seems like Rendon is getting closer to a return.

Rendon (toe) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Dodgers.

Rendon has been out for seven straight games after fouling a pitch off his toe more than a week ago. The Nationals probably wish they had placed him on the disabled list right away, as he'd be nearly eligible to return, but since DL stints can only be backdated by three days, he'd be out at least a week if the Nationals decide to place him on the DL now. Wilmer Difo will get another start at third base in his place.

Muncy got another start at the hot corner Friday, going 0-for-4 in a loss to the Nationals.

Muncy was called up after Logan Forsythe (shoulder) was placed on the disabled list earlier this week. The 27-year-old has started both of the last two contests, both against right-handed starters, placing him on the strong side of a platoon at third with Kyle Farmer. Forsythe isn't expected to be out for long, so this uptick in playing time will be short-lived for the utility infielder. That said, Muncy posted a healthy .309/.414/.491 slash line over 379 plate appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City last season, so there could be some value to be had for those in deep and NL-only formats, as well as a bargain play in DFS in games with a scheduled righty on the mound.

Suarez (thumb) will travel with the Reds to St. Louis and participate in some fielding and light throwing drills, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Suarez remarked that he has been feeling "much, much better" but he still isn't ready to resume swinging a bat at this time. This is yet another step forward in his return from a fractured thumb that he suffered in early April, though the 26-year-old remains without a timetable for his return.

Rendon (toe) is not in the lineup Friday against the Dodgers.

This is the sixth game in a row that Rendon will miss after fouling a ball off his toe a week ago. No word on how soon he'll return to the lineup has emerged, though the extended absence certainly isn't a good sign. Wilmer Difo will man the hot corner once again in his absence.

Arenado is hitting fourth Friday against the Cubs, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Arenado is normally a staple in the third spot of the Rockies' batting order, but manager Bud Black appears to be switching things up. Charlie Blackmon hit third while Arenado was serving his suspension, and it seems like the team was satisfied enough with what they saw during that time to give that alignment a longer look. Arenado's run-producing outlook remains largely the same moving forward, but he could lose out on a few at-bats if the one-spot drop in the order sticks for the remainder of the year.

LeMahieu is batting leadoff Friday against the Cubs, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

"DJ Le" batted leadoff the past five games, but that was more out of necessity as Charlie Blackmon moved down to the three-hole to replace Nolan Arenado while the third baseman was suspended. However, LeMahieu will stick in the pole position even with Arenado returning to action, suggesting a more long-standing change in the batting order. LeMahieu normally batted second last year and at the start of this season, but he could be in line for even more run-scoring opportunities with both Blackmon and Arenado hitting behind him.

The Rockies officially reinstated Arenado to the active roster Thursday after his five-game suspension concluded, MLB.com reports.

Colorado went 4-1 during the absence of its star third baseman, who received the suspension for his role in a bench-clearing brawl with the Padres on April 11. The Rockies haven't officially revealed their lineup for Friday's series opener with the Cubs, but Arenado is expected to be included in the starting nine barring a postponement of the game due to the rainy weather projected to hit the Denver area.