MLB Player News
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Josh Bell DH | MIN
Nationals' Josh Bell: Resting Thursday
Bell is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.
With Thursday's game beginning at 12:35 p.m. ET, Bell will get some rest after he had started at designated hitter or at first base in each of Washington's last seven contests while going 3-for-27 with a home run and three walks over that stretch. Bell's absence from the lineup will allow the Nationals to give James Wood a day out of the outfield and deploy him as their DH.
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Bryan Reynolds LF | PIT
Pirates' Bryan Reynolds: Returning to outfield Thursday
Reynolds (triceps) will start in right field and bat second in Thursday's game against the Nationals.
Reynolds will be making his first start in the outfield since March 30, as he had been limited exclusively to designated-hitter duties over the past two and a half weeks while managing right triceps soreness. The 30-year-old was apparently able to resume a throwing program without issue in recent days, and the Pirates are now comfortable enough with his health to have him play defense again. Pittsburgh had been getting by with a committee of Andrew McCutchen, Jack Suwinski and Alexander Canario in right field, but assuming Reynolds is ready to play in the outfield on a regular basis moving forward, McCutchen will likely end up seeing the bulk of the starts at DH.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Taking seat Thursday
Steer is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners.
Steer has been limited to designated-hitter duties thus far as he works his way back from a right shoulder injury, but manager Terry Francona said that the 27-year-old is ramping up his throwing and is almost ready to play first base, according to Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News. It's not clear when Steer might be ready to play additional positions, however. Austin Hays will get a start at DH on Thursday while Steer rests.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Slugs moonshot in victory
Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in an 8-7 win against Colorado on Wednesday.
Ohtani led off the bottom half of the first inning in jaw-dropping fashion, belting a 448-foot solo shot to right field off veteran German Marquez. The two-way star plated another run (albeit in less dramatic fashion) later in the frame on a single to right field to cap a seven-run opening inning for Los Angeles. Ohtani is tied for fourth in the league with six home runs, and he's added five steals, putting him on pace to approach a 40-40 campaign after logging MLB's first ever 50-50 season last year.
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Pavin Smith RF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Belts solo homer
Smith went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-2 win over Miami.
Smith extended Arizona's lead to two runs in the sixth inning, when he took Max Meyer deep to center field for a 429-foot solo home run. It was Smith's second homer of the year, and he's begun the season slashing .386/.460/.659 with nine runs and five RBI in 50 plate appearances while filling the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter.
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Mets' Jesse Winker: Bangs out two doubles Wednesday
Winker went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Twins.
The veteran outfielder broke an 0-for-13 skid with the performance. Winker has had a tough beginning to 2025 and missed time over the last week with an illness, but he's capable of heating up quickly if he's healthy. Through 12 games, he's batting .200 (7-for-35) with zero homers, one run and six RBI.
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Kyle Schwarber LF | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Getting start in outfield
Schwarber will start in left field and bat third in Wednesday's game versus the Giants, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
It's the first start in the outfield this season for Schwarber, who made five starts in left field last year. Schwarber's fantasy managers would love for the slugger to gain outfield eligibility, but there's no guarantee it will happen during the 2025 season.
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Seiya Suzuki RF | CHC
Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Returns to lineup Wednesday
Suzuki (wrist) will start at designated hitter and bat third in Wednesday's game versus the Padres.
Suzuki missed three starts with right wrist soreness but is feeling well enough to give it a go in Wednesday's series finale. The 30-year-old is sporting a .292/.390/.538 batting line with four home runs in his first 17 contests this season.
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Gavin Sheets RF | SD
Padres' Gavin Sheets: Getting day off against lefty
Sheets is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
With the Cubs sending southpaw Matthew Boyd to the bump, the left-handed-hitting Sheets will retreat to the bench. Luis Arraez will replace Sheets in the lineup as San Diego's designated hitter.
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Kris Bryant RF | COL
Rockies' Kris Bryant: Expected back when first eligible
Rockies manager Bud Black said Monday that he expects Bryant (back) to return when first eligible April 23, Andres Soto of MLB.com reports.
Bryant was diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disc disease, the latest in a series of back problems for the 33-year-old. Black indicated when Bryant was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier this week that it's an injury the designated hitter is just going to have to manage moving forward. Bryant has just a .400 OPS and 31.7 percent strikeout rate in 11 games with the Rockies this season.