MLB Player News

De La Cruz (quadriceps) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Monday's game versus the Padres.

De La Cruz departed Sunday's win over the Cubs due to left quad tightness, which manager Terry Francona clarified Monday was a "small strain," per Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati. While De La Cruz plans to play through the issue, it could tamp down his aggressiveness on the basepaths, though it shouldn't affect him in the batter's box.

The Red Sox placed Contreras on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a left hamstring strain.

Contreras will hit the shelf after experiencing tightness in the hamstring during Sunday's 16-1 loss to the Yankees and exiting the game in the seventh inning. According to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, Contreras had been playing through the injury for about a month, and it may started to take more of a toll on him over the past week; he slashed just .111/.200/.185 with a 2:8 BB:K over his last seven games. Boston recalled Mickey Gasper from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move, and the team could end up leaning on a combination of him and Nick Sogard at first base while Contreras is out of the lineup.

Crews is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Marlins.

After starting each of the previous 11 games, Crews will retreat to the bench in Monday's series finale. Andrew Pinckney will patrol right field for the Nationals while Crews rests.

Nunez is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.

CJ Abrams made his first start at second base for the Nationals on Sunday versus the Marlins, but he'll move back to shortstop for Monday's series finale. That will push Nunez to the bench, and Jorbit Vivas to the keystone.

Hill is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Atlanta, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

He'll take a seat for the makeup game in Atlanta while the Giants go with a starting outfield of Drew Gilbert, Jonah Cox and Jung Hoo Lee from left to right. Hill had been included in the lineup for six of the Giants' previous seven games, going 5-for-19 with two doubles, four walks, four RBI, two runs and one stolen base during that span.

Whitcomb is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Atlanta, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Whitcomb will hit the bench for the first time since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento a week ago. He made starts against four right-handers and three lefties over the Giants' last seven games, slashing a poor .077/.077/.231 with a 0:10 BB:K during that span. Osleivis Basabe will get the nod Monday at third base, and he could emerge as more of a factor at that position if Whitcomb is unable to get going at the plate in his future starts.

Cavanaugh is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Atlanta, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Cavanaugh will hit the bench for the makeup game in Atlanta while the Giants go with Andrew Knizner behind the plate. Unless he's used off the bench Monday, Cavanaugh will close out August having produced a lowly .208/.276/.226 slash line over 58 plate appearances.

Mead (wrist) played catch on the field at Fenway Park on Monday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Mead ditched his cast last week after follow-up imagining on his fractured left wrist came back negative. He had been performing strength and mobility exercises and has now progressed to light on-field baseball activities. Mead could be ready to return to Boston's active roster around mid-September if all goes well, but he still has lots of rehab boxes to check before making that a reality.

Triple-A St. Paul placed Rojas on its 7-day injured list Aug. 22 due to a right oblique strain, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.

While the 23-year-old lefty profiled as a potential candidate to join the Twins when the active roster expands to 28 men Tuesday, the oblique injury may take a potential promotion off the table for a bit. Before being optioned back to Triple-A earlier in August, Rojas compiled a 3.34 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 34:22 K:BB in 29.2 innings over 12 appearances (four starts) for Minnesota.

The White Sox acquired Pham from the Phillies on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Pham got into nine games with the Mets earlier this season but has spent most of the campaign at the Triple-A level, most recently posting a .772 OPS with three home runs in 44 contests with Lehigh Valley. He was on a minor-league contract with the Phillies but is expected to be added to Chicago's active roster Tuesday. The 38-year-old Pham could see some action in the corner outfield or at designated hitter against left-handed pitching.