MLB Player News

Soto (illnes) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

Soto is battling the flu and will miss a second straight start. It's unclear whether he might be available off the bench. Nick Morabito is starting in left field and Carson Benge is getting a start at designated hitter in Monday's series opener.

Dunn was penciled in as the leadoff batter Sunday before weather postponed the game, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Dunn served as the leadoff batter in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, becoming the fifth different Red to hit atop the order since manager Terry Francona pulled the plug on the slumping TJ Friedl. "I don't think we have one right now," Francona said of his leadoff hitter Saturday. Dunn was a key contributor in the win Saturday night and is pushing for a role as the team's primary right fielder. This, after Noelvi Marte, Rece Hinds and Will Benson failed to take hold. Dunn has also played center field, as Friedl has been out of the starting lineup more (seven times) than in it (five) over the last 12 contests.

Valdez is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Cubs.

Valdez started the first three games for the Pirates upon his promotion and launched his first career hit and home run in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays. However, he will begin Monday's festivities on the bench. Jhostynxon Garcia, Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds will patrol the outfield for Pittsburgh.

Frelick is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.

The left-handed-hitting Frelick will receive a rare day off as the Cardinals send southpaw Matthew Liberatore to the hill. Blake Perkins is getting the call in right field in Frelick's stead.

Hernandez went 2-for-2 with a grand slam in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Mets.

The 26-year-old outfielder pinch hit for Owen Caissie in the seventh inning of a 0-0 tie and stayed in the game in left field, becoming the hero when he got hold of a Devin Williams changeup in the bottom of the ninth and sent it sailing 416 feet over the center-field fence. It was Hernandez's first career grand slam and his second homer of 2026, and since being called back up to the majors May 7 he's batting .280 (7-for-25) in sporadic action with two home runs, one steal, two runs and eight RBI. With Caissie struggling badly (42.0 percent strikeout rate and a .635 OPS in 46 games), Hernandez could carve out a bigger role if he keeps coming up big.

Suzuki is not in Monday's lineup against the Pirates.

Suzuki has gone 0-for-13 with a walk and three strikeouts in his last four games. Michael Conforto draws the start in right field while Moises Ballesteros gets the start at designated hitter.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Blue Jays.

Cruz entered Sunday's game having hit only .179 across his last 10 games, while having gone homerless in his last 11 contests. He ended the latter drought with a solo home run to lead off the second inning, his 11th long ball of the year. Cruz was also moved out of the leadoff spot against a right-handed pitcher for only the third time this season, instead hitting fifth.

Troy started in left field and went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in Sunday's 9-1 win over Colorado.

Troy, who made his MLB debut Sunday, doubled and scored in the second and sixth innings. He was called up from Triple-A Reno when the Diamondbacks placed left fielder Lourdes Gurriel (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list. Troy joins a group of potential fill-ins that includes Jorge Barrosa and Tim Tawa, but manager Torey Lovullo indicated that Troy will get plenty of opportunities while Gurriel is out, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.

Waldschmidt went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple, a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's win over Colorado.

Waldschmidt got in on the offensive onslaught, sending a rocket past center fielder Jake McCarthy for an RBI triple, the first three-bagger of the rookie's big-league career. While Waldschmidt is still searching for his first homer, the top prospect has been fantastic since being promoted May 8. Across 57 plate appearances, the 23-year-old is slashing .353/.411/.471 with four doubles, seven RBI, nine runs and five stolen bases.

Pages went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Brewers.

After racking up 86 RBI in 581 regular-season at-bats during a breakout 2025 campaign, Pages is on pace for even better numbers in 2026. The 25-year-old center fielder is tied with CJ Abrams for the top mark in the major leagues in RBI (45), putting him well within striking distance of his first career 100-RBI season if he stays healthy. With 11 long balls through 195 at-bats thus far, Pages also has a decent chance at his first 30-homer year.