MLB Player News

The Reds will promote Encarnacion-Strand from Triple-A Louisville on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Encarnacion-Strand has performed well at Louisville over the first half of the 2023 campaign, slashing .331/.405/.637 with 20 homers, 65 runs, 62 RBI and two stolen bases. The 23-year-old has impressed at every level of the minors and will now have an opportunity to showcase his talents on the big-league stage alongside some of Cincinnati's other top prospects in Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain. Encarnacion-Strand has seen some playing time in the outfield recently, and the corner outfield spots could be a path toward playing time if the Reds don't want to take at-bats away from Spencer Steer and Joey Votto. Regardless of Encarnacion-Strand's position, he's in line for regular at-bats with the major-league club as Cincinnati pushes for a playoff spot.

Brantley (shoulder) ran the bases before Sunday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brantley was shut down from baseball activities in early July, so it was encouraging to see him do some baserunning Sunday. Since he's dealing with a shoulder injury, the Astros will presumably want to see him doing some hitting and fielding before he's in the mix to return to game action.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Sunday that Jimenez (groin) could be out 4-to-5 days, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Jimenez got hurt on the day he returned to outfield duty, though he was injured running to first base Sunday, not while playing the field. Regardless, it sounds like the team is preparing to be without Jimenez for several days at least. He will be re-evaluated before Chicago's series against the Mets in New York.

Jimenez was removed from Sunday's game against Atlanta with left groin tightness.

Jimenez will be evaluated further ahead of the team's upcoming series in Queens. Jake Burger could take over as the primary DH if this forces Jimenez to the injured list, with Yoan Moncada (back) inching closer to a return.

Rooker was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins with an illness, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

There has been nothing to suggest Rooker is dealing with a serious illness. Rooker has had some major peaks and valleys this season -- he's been enjoying success lately, slashing .281/.351/.625 with three homers in his last 10 games despite a 35.1 percent strikeout rate in that span.

The Cardinals optioned Baker to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Baker hasn't appeared in a game since July 5. He will get regular at-bats again at Memphis, where he's crushed to the tune of a .319/.433/.664 slash line and 22 homers in 64 games this season. His path to playing time is complicated by his defensive limitations, though Baker figures to get another opportunity before the end of the season, perhaps shortly after the trade deadline.

Belt isn't in Toronto's lineup Sunday against Arizona.

Left-hander Tommy Henry will start on the mound for the D-backs on Sunday, so Belt will stay put in the Jays' dugout. Alejandro Kirk will step in as Toronto's DH and bat seventh.

The Pirates activated McCutchen from the 10-day injured list Sunday.

The veteran will return after taking some time off to manage right elbow discomfort -- something he's been battling since at least mid-June. McCutchen, in the midst of a resurgent campaign (.808 OPS), will slot back into his customary No. 3 spot in the lineup against lefty Alex Wood and the Giants on Sunday. Rodolfo Castro was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move.

Harper went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, a solo home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in a 9-4 win over the Padres during the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.

The 30-year-old was used only as a pinch hitter in the matinee with lefty Blake Snell on the mound for San Diego, but Harper was back at DH for the nightcap and took Ryan Weathers deep in the fourth inning. The blast snapped a career-worst homer drought for Harper that had lasted 166 plate appearances, and he now has four long balls and six steals in 59 games on the season to go along with his still solid .298/.395/.422 slash line.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 13-12 extra-inning win over the Astros.

Ohtani continues to be hampered on the mound by a blister and cracked fingernail on his right middle finger, but it's not slowing him down at the plate. He's gone 7-for-17 over his last four contests with two homers, four RBI and a triple in that span. The two-way superstar is slashing .302/.386/.661 with 33 homers, 72 RBI, 65 runs scored and 11 stolen bases over 91 contests as a hitter. Manager Phil Nevin also indicated Ohtani should be able to make his next scheduled pitching start, which is tentatively expected to be against the Pirates as long as his troublesome finger cooperates.