MLB Player News

Abrams went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Monday's 6-5 win over the Rockies.

Abrams' eighth-inning blast gave the Padres just enough offense to get the win. He's started each of the last two games at shortstop with Ha-Seong Kim (thumb) hurt, though Kim was able to appear as a defensive replacement Monday and may not be out much longer. Abrams is 7-for-20 (.350) in July, and he's up to a .234/.281/.333 slash line with two homers, 11 RBI, 15 runs scored and a stolen base through 123 plate appearances overall.

Cruz isn't starting Monday's game against the Marlins, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Cruz started in the last four games and went 4-for-15 with a homer, a double, three runs, two RBI and a stolen base. Kevin Newman will shift to shortstop while Josh VanMeter starts at second base Monday.

Arcia is not in the starting lineup for Monday's contest against the Mets.

Arcia will head to the bench Monday as Robinson Cano will make his debut with the team and take over the starting spot a second base. The 27-year-old is expected to shift into more of a platoon role after the addition of Cano, making his absence from the lineup Monday something that could be common moving forward.

Berti is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The majors' leader with 27 stolen bases, Berti has been seeing more time in left field of late with Joey Wendle having found a home at the keystone in his return from the injured list while Jazz Chisholm (back) remains on the shelf. Bryan De La Cruz will pick up a start in left field in place of Berti, but the 32-year-old speedster should continue to play regularly in the absence of both Chisholm and Jorge Soler (pelvis), who also appears unlikely to make it back from the IL before the All-Star break.

Rojas (neck) is starting at shortstop and batting eighth Monday against the Pirates, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

After exiting Sunday's game early with neck tightness, Rojas is ready to go ahead the team's four game series against the Pirates. Since June 26, the 33-year-old has produced a .302 average with one home run, five doubles, three RBI, four runs and a stolen base over 43 at-bats in 14 games.

Cruz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored Sunday against the Brewers.

Cruz took Trevor Gott yard in the sixth inning to record his fourth home run of the season. He has shown the expected pop in his bat since being promoted June 20, as nine of his 16 hits have gone for extra bases. On the other hand, Cruz has a 34.2 percent strikeout rate which has deflated to his batting average to .213 across 79 plate appearances.

Watson hasn't played for Single-A Jupiter since July 1 due to a disciplinary reason that's being handled internally by the Marlins, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

It's been a frustrating first full pro season for the 19-year-old, who had a hot start but has seen his slash line sink to .221/.274/.372 due to significant contact issues (39.3 percent strikeout rate). There was an incident a couple weeks ago where Watson struck out and aimed his bat like a gun at the first base umpire who ruled that he went around on a check swing. Given his athletic tools and young age, there's still plenty of time for him to put things together, but how Watson responds upon his return will give some insight into his current makeup and maturity.

Swanson went 3-for-6 with a double and two runs scored in Sunday's extra-innings win over the Nationals.

He crossed the plate with the winning run as the phantom runner in the 12th inning on an Austin Riley single. Swanson has recorded three or more hits in four of the last 10 games, and the hot streak has boosted the All-Star's slash line on the season to .302/.357/.491 with 14 homers, 14 steals, 50 RBI and 54 runs through 87 contests.

Arcia is expected to move into a short-side platoon role with Atlanta on track to promote Robinson Cano from Triple-A Gwinnett prior to Monday's game against the Mets, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

When Ozzie Albies fractured his foot June 13 and underwent surgery two days later, Arcia was installed as the team's everyday second baseman. After generating seven hits in his first three starts in place of Albies, Arcia has proceeded to hit .145/.232/.145 over his subsequent 18 games. Atlanta apparently prefers to keep Arcia's top backup at second base, Phil Gosselin, in a utility role, so the lefty-hitting Cano looks as though he'll get a look as the primary option at the keystone as the team aims to extract more production from that position. Arcia, meanwhile, should replace Cano in the lineup versus left-handed pitching and will likely represent Atlanta's top pinch-running option off the bench on days he doesn't start.

Atlanta promoted Grissom from High-A Rome to Double-A Mississippi on Monday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

The 21-year-old will rise to Double-A after he slashed .312/.404/.487 with 11 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 24 attempts across 344 plate appearances for Rome. Grissom primarily played shortstop with Rome, but he also picked up six starts apiece at second base and third base. His ability to play multiple infield spots could help expedite his arrival to the big leagues if he continues to perform well at the plate at the higher levels of the minors.