MLB Player News

Winker went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's 3-0 win over the Giants.

Winker made his return to the lineup Monday after being held out the last two games following an early departure Friday with calf cramps. The 27-year-old launched a two-run homer to straightaway center in the third to get things rolling for the Reds. Winker has had a scorching start to the season, as he's 8-for-16 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and five runs scored. The Reds have a bit of a crowded outfield with Winker, Tyler Naquin, Nick Senzel and Nick Castellanos all readily available, so it may be tough for Winker to find consistent playing time with all four outfielders hitting the ball well to begin the year.

Pederson went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Monday's loss to the Brewers.

Pederson is still batting just .129 this season but he has now reached base in six straight games. The outfielder likely won't supply a great batting average anyways, but it'd be nice if he started producing more counting stats, as he's tallied just one home run, two runs scored and four RBI in 10 games for his new team. The whole Chicago lineup has been struggling, which has limited Pederson's chances to do much damage.

Belt isn't starting Monday's game against the Reds, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt will take a seat for the second time in the last four games with southpaw Wade Miley taking the mound for the Reds on Monday. Wilmer Flores will take over at first base, batting fifth.

Dickerson isn't starting Monday's game against the Reds, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Dickerson hit his second home run of the season in Sunday's series finale against Colorado, but he'll get a breather with lefty Wade Miley starting for Cincinnati on Monday. Darin Ruf will start in left field, batting third.

Winker (calf) will bat leadoff and start in left field Monday against the Giants.

Just as manager David Bell suggested would be the case a day earlier, Winker will rejoin the lineup for the series opener in San Francisco after a calf cramp prevented him from playing in the Reds' final two games of the weekend in Arizona. Prior to exiting Friday's contest, Winker had missed six days of action while recovering from an illness, so he'll be making just his fifth start of the season Monday. Tyler Naquin -- who has slugged five home runs and driven in 14 while serving as the primary replacement for Winker -- will take a seat Monday.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Braves.

Harper started out poorly, as he went down swinging in each of his first two at-bats. However, he came around in the sixth, beginning the inning by belting an opposite-field home run to put the Phillies up 6-5. The 28-year-old has managed to reach safely in every game so far, and he's slashing .276/.447/.517 with two home runs, four RBI and seven runs scored.

Belt went 1-for-2 with a solo homer and pair of walks in Sunday's win over the Rockies.

The 32-year-old knocked in the final run against German Marquez, a solo shot in the sixth inning. Belt is off to a sluggish start following his career year in 2020 where he slashed .309/.425/.591.

Dickerson went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Sunday's win over the Rockies.

The left-handed hitter smoked a solo shot off German Marquez in the first inning, launching the ball a whopping 413 feet. It was the second of the year for the 30-year-old, who found some power last season and has carried it over into 2021.

Manager David Bell said Winker (calf) will be "fully available" off the bench for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Bell nearly included Winker in the lineup Sunday, but the outfielder will get another day off for precautionary purposes while he works back from calf cramps. Expect Winker to re-enter the starting nine for Monday's game in San Francisco.

Winker (calf) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

The 27-year-old exited Friday's contest with calf cramps and sat out Saturday, and he'll remain on the bench for Sunday's series finale. Tyler Naquin, Nick Senzel and Nick Castellanos will start from left to right in the outfield with Winker again sidelined.