MLB Player News

Friedl batted ninth in the order and went 1-for-2 with a walk in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Mets.

This was Friedl's first time starting a game at the bottom of the order. The one-time leadoff hitter's season-opening slump has cost him both a spot atop the Reds' order and playing time - Friedl's started just three times in the last 13 games.

Dunn batted leadoff and went 3-for-6 in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Mets.

Dunn was part of a frustrating night for Cincinnati batters, as the team left a season-high 17 runners on base and went 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position. With TJ Friedl having been moved out of the top spot in the order, Dunn has stared four straight games at leadoff and sports a .393 on-base percentage across 56 plate appearances since being called up from Triple-A Louisville.

Pages went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Rockies.

Pages hit second against a right-handed pitcher for the first time this season. He's been all over the lineup lately -- he was batting as low as seventh on May 18, but he's steadily worked his way up the order with a surge of offense. He's hit safely in five straight games, going 10-for-21 (.476) in that span with three homers and eight RBI. For the season, the outfielder is batting .303 with an .899 OPS, 13 homers, 50 RBI, 34 runs scored and seven stolen bases across 56 contests.

Hernandez was removed from Wednesday's game against the Rockies with a left hamstring strain.

Hernandez was grabbing at his left hamstring after attempting to beat a throw to first base in the second inning, and he was replaced on defense at the start of the third. The severity of the outfielder's injury is still unknown, though a trip to the injured list could be on the table. Alex Call would be the favorite to start in left field if Hernandez needs to miss time.

Happ went 2-for-6 with a home run and five RBI in Wednesday's 10-4 win over the Pirates.

The switch-hitting outfielder tallied a season high in RBI and his third career game with at least five RBI, snapping a nine-game home-run drought in the process. Happ also provided his first multi-hit game since the May 15 win over the White Sox, now slashing .215/.346/.436 with 11 homers, 26 RBI, 36 runs scored and two stolen bases over 234 plate appearances.

Tucker isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against Colorado.

Tucker has started each of the Dodgers' last nine games and slashed .229/.325/.400 with six RBI, six runs and a steal in that stretch. He'll get a chance to rest his legs Wednesday while Alex Call starts in right field, batting eighth.

Conforto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Conforto finds himself on the bench for a second straight matchup versus a right-handed starter (Bubba Chandler) after going 0-for-16 with seven strikeouts over his previous six games. The 33-year-old appeared to briefly overtake Moises Ballesteros as the Cubs' preferred designated hitter against right-handed pitching earlier this month, but the ongoing dry spell at the plate looks to have resulted in Conforto sliding back down the depth chart.

Mangum is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Upon returning from the injured list May 17, Mangum started in five of the Pirates' ensuing seven games, but he'll be relegated to the bench Wednesday for the third consecutive contest. Unless the Pirates are willing to pull the plug on the struggling Marcell Ozuna as their primary designated hitter, Mangum likely won't have a path to steady at-bats in the outfield while Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz are available and while rookie Esmerlyn Valdez is getting prioritized ahead of him.

Garcia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Garcia will head to the bench for the third time in four games and could have to settle for more of a part-time role in the outfield while the Pirates continue to open up room in the lineup for Marcell Ozuna, who will draw a third straight start. With Ozuna occupying the designated-hitter spot, Oneil Cruz will cover center field and will be flanked by Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez in the corner spots.

Benson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.

The left-handed-hitting Benson will be on the bench for the fourth time in five games, with three of those absences coming against right-handed starting pitchers. At this point, Benson appears to have faded into a reserve role while the Reds have opened up more playing time in the outfield lately for Blake Dunn and Spencer Steer. The decline in opportunities comes while Benson has slashed just .091/.259/.091 with a 37 percent strikeout rate over his last 11 games.