MLB Player News

Barrero is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.

Barrero started the Reds' first two games of the season at shortstop, going hitless with two strikeouts over seven at-bats. Kevin Newman will step in to cover the position in the series finale, and Reds manager David Bell could be inclined to ride the hotter bat between Newman and Barrero before settling on a preferred everyday option at shortstop. After going 2-for-4 with a go-ahead two-run home run in Saturday's win over Pittsburgh while serving as the Reds' designated hitter, Newman may have a leg up on Barrero at the moment.

Anderson went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base Saturday against the White Sox.

Anderson has collected two hits in all three games this season, and he has also scored a run in each contest as well. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the first series of the campaign is Anderson's aggressiveness on the bases, as his stolen base in the fourth frame of Saturday's game was already his second of the campaign.

Franco went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, three RBI and a run scored Saturday against the Tigers.

Franco was a key part of the Rays' 12-run offensive outburst Saturday, with his first contribution coming on an RBI single in the third frame. He then knocked a double in the seventh frame which drove in two more runs. Franco has gotten off to a hot start this season, collecting five hits in his first eight at-bats, including three going for extra bases.

Bogaerts went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two walks in Saturday's victory over Colorado.

Bogaerts connected on his first homer of the season and first as a member of the Padres with a two-run blast off Jose Urena in the first inning. Bogaerts has gotten off to a sensational start with San Diego by picking up five hits in his first 10 at-bats, with three of them going for extra bases.

Crawford went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored, three RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Yankees.

The homer and the steal were the first of the year for the veteran shortstop. Crawford saw his production fade badly last season after he set career highs with 24 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 2021, so Saturday's performance is an encouraging sign the 36-year-old might be able to regain some of that ground.

Mateo went 0-for-4 with one RBI, one run scored and two stolen bases in Saturday's loss to the Red Sox.

The Orioles have been running rampant against the Red Sox in the first two games of the series -- they've already picked up 10 steals as a team. Mateo has four of them, as he's swiped two bags in back-to-back games. There's very little offensive upside in the other categories, but Mateo should again be a major contributor with steals because of his impressive speed.

Witt went 0-for-4 during Saturday's loss to the Twins.

Witt has yet to pick up a hit in his first two games of the season. There's obviously plenty of time left in the season, but it's possible there's some rust to shake off after not getting regular playing time for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic in March. There's no reason to panic at this point, but it's a disappointing start for one of the most talented players in baseball.

Grissom went 1-for-3 with two walks, a triple, three runs scored and a stolen base in Gwinnett's Opening Day win over Jacksonville on Friday.

Getting the start at shortstop and hitting second, Grissom flashed the offensive talent that allowed him to make an impact as a rookie last year for Atlanta. However, he also committed a fielding error, and his defense is what kept him from winning the starting shortstop job in the majors to begin 2023. Braden Shewmake, who was also in the thick of the spring battle for that job, went 1-for-5 with four strikeouts and a walkoff three-run home run as Gwinnett's second baseman. If Grissom can demonstrate some consistency with his glove at Triple-A, he's still likely Atlanta's first choice for promotion should a spot open up with the big club's infield.

Smith will start in left field and bat ninth in Saturday's game against Philadelphia.

Smith is making his second straight start in left field, both coming against right-handers. He was projected for utility work, but center fielder Leody Taveras' oblique injury forced manager Bruce Bochy to adjust the outfield. For the second straight game, Adolis Garcia starts in center and be flanked by Smith in left and Robbie Grossman in right. The Phillies are scheduled to throw left-hander Bailey Falter on Sunday, which will offer a glimpse into Bochy's lineup preferences against southpaws. Bubba Thompson could enter the starting nine in place of Smith in Sunday's series finale.

Shewmake went 1-for-5 with a three-run, walkoff home run in Triple-A Gwinnett's Opening Day win over Jacksonville on Friday.

Getting the start at second base and hitting third for the Stripers, Shewmake took Robert Garcia deep in the bottom of the ninth inning to break open a 5-5 tie. The heroics salvaged what started out as a rough night at the plate for Shewmake, as he struck out in his other four at-bats. After nearly winning the starting shortstop job for Atlanta in spring training, the 25-year-old is a phone call away if a vacancy opens up on the big-league infield, but he'll need to prove at Triple-A he's a better option than Vaughn Grissom, who reached base three times Friday, scored three runs and stole a base but also committed an error at shortstop.