MLB Player News

Acuna (knee) will get three plate appearances Tuesday in the first game of his rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

This will likely allow Acuna to play four or five innings in right field, as Atlanta is treating this like it's his first spring training game. There isn't an official timeline for Acuna's return to the majors, but he could theoretically return before the end of May.

Freeman requires 90 minutes of treatment on his surgically repaired right ankle every day, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Freeman noted that the ankle is "not 100 percent" but is "good enough" to play on. The lingering ankle discomfort is likely the main reason Freeman has yet to steal a base in 2025 after averaging 15 steals over the previous three seasons. However, it has not affected Freeman at the plate, as he's sporting a robust .376/.437/.734 batting line with nine home runs and 33 RBI. Freeman has been told by doctors that he might not have to do as much daily treatment on the ankle after the All-Star break.

Frelick is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Guardians.

Frelick has started 13 games against southpaws this season, but he'll head to the bench Tuesday against lefty Logan Allen. Daz Cameron is starting in right field and batting second. Frelick is 2-for-16 in four games since returning from a minor knee issue.

Durbin is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Guardians.

This is Durbin's first day off since April 24. He is hitting .118 with a double, zero home runs, zero steals and a 2:2 K:BB in 11 games in May. Andruw Monasterio is starting at third base and batting eighth.

Espinal will start at third base and bat second in Tuesday's contest against the White Sox.

Usual No. 2 hitter Matt McLain has been demoted to the No. 8 spot in the lineup. Espinal has hit second a handful of times this season but has made most of his starts much lower in the batting order, including hitting ninth in the Reds' previous game Sunday.

McLain will start at second base and bat eighth in Tuesday's game versus the White Sox.

McLain had occupied either the second spot (28 times) or leadoff spot (three times) in his first 31 starts this season, but with a .596 OPS and 31.7 percent strikeout rate, he's earned a trip to the lower third of the Reds' batting order. Santiago Espinal has been elevated to the two hole for Cincinnati.

Kemp (shoulder) has made two starts in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League this season, covering nine innings in total while allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out five.

An eighth-round selection out of high school in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, Kemp didn't pitch that season or last due to a right shoulder injury. Kemp received a clean bill of health prior to the start of the Complex League season, but the young righty has struggled to display much control early on. In addition to walking 12.8 percent of the batters he's faced, Kemp has hit two batters and thrown three wild pitches.

Schmitt (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports

Schmitt has been cleared for game action after missing more than three weeks with Grade 2 left oblique strain. The infielder should be ready to rejoin the Giants within the next week or so if all goes well.

Fitzgerald (rib) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Fitzgerald will play second base and bat leadoff for the River Cats after missing the last couple weeks with a left rib fracture. He shouldn't require too many rehab games before being activated, potentially setting Fitzgerald up for a return later this week if all goes well.

Murphy is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals.

Murphy started at catcher in the series opener Monday but will get a breather in this one. Drake Baldwin is behind the plate and batting fifth for Atlanta.