MLB Player News

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

Riley Adams will draw the start at catcher while Ruiz rests for the day game after a night game. Ruiz had started in each of the Nationals' last three contests, going 4-for-12 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez will receive a breather for Thursday's matinee contest after he had started each of the previous four days, with three coming at catcher and one at designated hitter. Luis Torrens will fill in behind the dish Thursday in place of Alvarez, who is slashing .300/.382/.433 thus far in July.

Iglesias is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Though he'll hit the bench Thursday, Iglesias seems to have pushed his way into a near-everyday role in the New York infield. He had started in five of the previous six games, and he turned in another strong performance in Wednesday's 6-2 win, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs. Jeff McNeil will cover second base Thursday, but McNeil could end up seeing more time in the corner outfield if the Mets want to continue opening up regular playing time in the infield for Iglesias.

Bailey went 2-for-2 with a home run, three walks and three runs scored in Wednesday's loss to the Blue Jays.

Bailey reached five times on the night, scoring a run in two of his first three trips to the plate before smacking a solo homer in the ninth to give him seven long balls on the season. The catcher has now hit safely in three straight games and has recorded multiple hits in each of his last two. Wednesday also marked only the fourth time on the campaign that Bailey's drawn multiple walks.

Benson is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rockies.

The lefty-hitting Benson will hit the bench for a second straight day while the Rockies bring another southpaw (Austin Gomber) to the hill. With fellow left-handed hitter Jake Fraley also out of the lineup, the Reds will open up room in the starting outfield for Austin Slater and Rece Hinds.

Espinal will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Thursday's game against the Rockies.

Espinal will be rewarded with a third consecutive start after he went 3-for-7 with a walk, two runs and two RBI between the previous two contests. Both of Espinal's last two starts were at second base in place of Jonathan India, who battled knee soreness. The 29-year-old Espinal still appears have a role as a short-side platoon player and occasional fill-in rather than a regular in the Reds lineup.

Fraley is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rockies.

Though he was activated from the family medical emergency list Wednesday, the lefty-hitting Fraley has yet to rejoin the lineup since the Reds have faced lefty starters Kyle Freeland and Austin Gomber on consecutive days. After Thursday's contest, the Reds will begin a three-game series versus the Marlins to wrap up their first-half schedule. The Marlins haven't listed a starter for Friday, but with right-hander Yonny Chirinos tentatively lining up to take the hill, Fraley will most likely be in the Reds lineup for the series opener.

De La Cruz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rockies.

For just the second time all season, De La Cruz will will hit the bench. According to Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer, De La Cruz's absence isn't related to the hand injury he's been managing recently; instead, the 22-year-old is just getting a well-overdue afternoon off while Cincinnati wraps up its series with Colorado with a day game after a night game. De La Cruz won't have much of a chance to catch his breath during the upcoming week while he makes his first All-Star Game appearance next Tuesday in Texas, so the Reds presumably wanted to build in some extra rest for him heading into the Midsummer Classic. Santiago Espinal will step in at shortstop for De La Cruz on Thursday.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.

Diaz will receive a breather for Thursday's day game after he went 2-for-4 with an RBI while catching all nine innings of the Rockies' 6-5 win Wednesday night. Hunter Goodman will handle the catching duties for Colorado.

Blackmon is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds due to a slight right hamstring injury, MLB.com reports.

Manager Bud Black said that Blackmon "tweaked" his hamstring while making a sliding catch during Monday's 6-0 loss to the Reds. The lefty-hitting Blackmon received a planned day off Tuesday while the Reds sent southpaw Nick Lodolo to the mound, but the 38-year-old's continued absences from the lineup against right-handed starters Frankie Montas and Hunter Greene on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, signals that Blackmon is still being slowed by the injury. Blackmon had been available for pinch-hitting duties in Wednesday's 6-5 win but went unused, so he could once again be a candidate to come off the bench Thursday.