MLB Player News
-
Mike Ford DH | CIN
Reds' Mike Ford: Delivers two in loss
Ford went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI in Monday's 6-5 loss to Arizona.
Ford made a significant contribution for a second consecutive game. After a game-tying, eighth-inning home run in Sunday's loss to the Giants, Ford hit a game-tying single in the sixth then a go-ahead triple in the eighth Monday. Cincinnati's offense has struggled, so if Ford's bat gets going, he could land a semi-regular role until Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) returns.
-
Joc Pederson DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson: Goes yard in win
Pederson went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-5 win over the Reds.
Pederson has gone 11-for-35 (.314) with three homers and a 2:14 BB:K over 11 games in May. The slugger is up to five homers, nine RBI, 16 runs scored and a .298/.414/.543 slash line through 117 plate appearances in a strong-side platoon role at designated hitter. The 32-year-old has started the year well, but his strict platoon role likely means his 30-homer campaigns of yesteryear are unlikely to return.
-
Kyle Schwarber DH | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Expected back Tuesday
Schwarber (back) will be in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Schwarber was absent from Monday's starting lineup due to back soreness, but he was called upon later in the game to pinch it, which resulted in a strikeout. After Monday's win, manager Rob Thomson noted that the slugger would be back in the starting nine for the second game of the series.
-
Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Back in lineup Monday
Ohtani (back) is serving as the designated hitter and batting second in Monday's game against the Giants.
Ohtani sat out Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Padres after leaving Saturday's game due to back tightness. The day off seems to have done the trick, and Ohtani is back in action for Monday's series opener. Ohtani has gone 12-for-28 with eight runs, four stolen bases, four home runs and eight RBI in May.
-
Kyle Schwarber DH | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Remains out Monday
Schwarber (back) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Schwarber is on the bench for a third straight game due to lower-back soreness, but the 31-year-old is holding out hope for returning to the lineup for the Phillies' final game at Citi Field on Tuesday before the four-game series with the Mets shifts back to Philadelphia. With Schwarber out of the starting nine, Nick Castellanos will get a day out of the outfield and will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter.
-
DJ Stewart RF | NYM
Mets' DJ Stewart: On base three times Sunday
Stewart went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Sunday's win over Atlanta.
Getting the start in left field with Brandon Nimmo nursing an intercostal issue, Stewart did a credible job as the leadoff hitter. Nimmo wound up pinch hitting a slugging a walk-off homer in the ninth inning however, so the assignment for Stewart was purely a short-term one. The 30-year-old has played well enough to keep a bench job even after J.D. Martinez joined the big-league roster, and Stewart sports a .206/.389/.426 slash line on the season with four homers and 16 RBI in 90 plate appearances.
-
Mike Ford DH | CIN
Reds' Mike Ford: Goes deep in loss
Ford went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
Ford's homer tied the game at 5-5 in the eighth inning. The 31-year-old has gone 2-for-15 with a walk and two strikeouts over five games since he re-signed with the Reds on May 8 following his release from the organization May 4. Ford slashed .228/.323/.475 with 16 homers and 34 RBI over 84 contests with the Mariners last season, so he may have some power upside if he can claim a regular role.
-
Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Out Sunday with back tightness
Ohtani (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Ohtani's absence from the starting nine was fully expected after he was removed from Saturday's 5-0 win over the Padres following his fourth at-bat of the night due to lower-back tightness. According to ESPN.com, manager Dave Roberts said he had minimal concern about Ohtani's health, but the star designated hitter will nonetheless sit out the series finale in San Diego. The Dodgers are seemingly hopeful that Ohtani can return to the lineup for Monday's series opener in San Francisco.
-
Kris Bryant DH | COL
Rockies' Kris Bryant: Likely to begin rehab stint Tuesday
Bryant (back) is likely to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Bryant hasn't played since April 13 due to a lower-back strain, but he took a major step forward in his recovery by taking batting practice Friday and Saturday. According to the report, Bryant displayed even more power in Saturday's live BP session than Friday's, leaving the Rockies optimistic that he'll soon be ready to rejoin the big club. Bryant will report to Albuquerque on Tuesday, and if all goes well in his rehab assignment, manager Bud Black left the door open for the four-time All-Star to return to the big club in advance of Friday's series opener in San Francisco.
-
Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Snaps out of slump
McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Saturday against the Cubs.
McCutchen entered the game with just four hits across his last 43 at-bats while striking out at a 27.5 percent clip. He came through with a clutch home run to lead off the sixth frame of Saturday's contest, his fourth time leaving the yard on the season. McCutchen has a .288 wOBA and 84 wRC+ across 124 total plate appearances on the campaign, though he continues to serve as Pittsburgh's primary designated hitter.