MLB Player News

Troy isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers.

Troy has collected a base hit in each of his last four games, but the D-backs will keep him on the bench to begin Friday's contest. Ryan Waldschmidt will start in center field and bat eighth.

Kepler isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers.

Kepler will get a breather Friday after going 4-for-13 with a homer, six RBI and two runs scored during Arizona's four-game set against the Padres. His absence will allow Lourdes Gurriel to start in left field and open a spot in the lineup for Tim Tawa at first base.

Church is absent from the lineup for Friday's tilt versus Atlanta.

With lefty Chris Sale toeing the slab, the left-handed-hitting Church will begin the festivities on the bench. Jose Fermin will patrol center field and bat seventh for the Cardinals.

Nootbaar is not in the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.

Lefty ace Chris Sale is on the bump for Atlanta, so the Cardinals are loading up their lineup with righty bats. The right-handed-hitting Nelson Velazquez will cover left field while the lefty-swinging Noobaar sits.

Chourio is not in the lineup for Friday's game in Pittsburgh.

Chourio is off to a slow start in July with a .225/.279/.350 batting line in 10 games, so he will get a day off to regroup. Luis Lara will draw a start in left field and bat sixth for the Brewers.

Suzuki (cramps) will start in right field and bat cleanup in Friday's game versus the Reds.

Suzuki was forced to depart Thursday's game in Baltimore due to cramps, but he was fine shortly after the contest ended and will not have to miss a start. The 31-year-old has homered in back-to-back games.

Lile is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees.

The left-handed-hitting Lile will get a break as the Yankees send southpaw Ryan Weathers to the hill. Andres Chaparro is getting a start in Lile's place and will occupy the designated-hitter slot.

Benge went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's win over the Royals.

The rookie right fielder has reeled off four straight multi-hit performances as he surges toward the All-Star break. Benge has hit safely in 13 of the last 14 contests, delivering a .328/.391/.466 slash line over that stretch with two doubles, two homers, two steals, seven RBI and nine runs.

Yastrzemski went 1-for-3 with two walks, a grand slam and a second run scored in Thursday's win over the Pirates.

The veteran outfielder put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth inning when he turned on a Dennis Santana fastball and deposited it in the right-field seats. The homer was only Yastrzemski's sixth of the season in 84 contests, and his .681 OPS would be a career low, but he's showing signs of a breakout in July. Through the first nine games this month he's batting .280 (7-for-25) with a double, two long balls, six runs, nine RBI and more walks (six) than strikeouts (five).

Soto went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run scored in Thursday's 7-3 win over the Royals.

Soto capped the scoring in the seventh inning with a 435-foot blast off Beck Way, his 21st long ball this season. Soto's now homered four times in his last seven games, going 8-for-24 (.333) with a 1.348 OPS in that span. Overall, the star outfielder is slashing .297/.414/.579 with 50 RBI, 44 runs scored and seven stolen bases across 321 plate appearances.