MLB Player News

The Padres optioned Batten to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Batten was called up by the Padres on April 16 and went 1-for-3 with a triple the following day against the Brewers. Batten's move to Triple-A El Paso makes room for San Diego to call up Graham Pauley, who will start at third base Saturday against the Blue Jays.

Encarnacion-Strand (illness) is starting at first base and batting fifth in Saturday's game against the Angels.

Encarnacion-Strand had missed the Reds' last two games due to an illness. He and third baseman Jeimer Candelario are back in Saturday's starting lineup and will face Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval.

Wade isn't in the Giants' lineup Friday versus the Diamondbacks, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The lefty-hitting Wade will take a seat Friday as southpaw Jordan Montgomery prepares to make his first start of the season for Arizona. Wilmer Flores will take over at first base and bat second.

Cronenworth (calf) is starting at first base and hitting third in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Cronenworth left Monday's game against the Brewers after experiencing calf tightness. He sat out the Padres' last two games, and the team's day off Thursday has given the 30-year-old enough time to recover. Cronenworth is slashing .254/.333/.465 with three home runs and 14 RBI over 81 plate appearances to start the season.

Bauers was placed on the bereavement list by the Brewers on Friday.

Bauers will be away, by rule, for at least the three-game weekend series in St. Louis and potentially as many as seven games. Rhys Hoskins will be at first base Friday for the Brewers.

Flores went 1-for-1 with a double and two RBI in a 5-0 win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Flores entered in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and immediately smacked a two-run double, which accounted for only his third extra-base hit of the campaign. While he has been on the short side of the platoon with LaMonte Wade at first base, the Giants have found a way to get Flores' bat in the lineup situationally on a regular basis. The 32-year-old has yet to tally a home run in 2024, but given that his slugging percentage (.311) is woefully below his .439 career mark, his power could arrive in short order.

Gallo is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

Gallo started the previous 14 games and will take a seat after he posted a .170/.328/.447 slash line with three homers and a 43.1 percent strikeout rate during that stretch. Joey Meneses will start at first base versus Houston righty Justin Verlander.

Encarnacion-Strand (illness) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.

Encarnacion-Strand missed Wednesday's game due to an illness and still isn't ready to play following Thursday's off day. Spencer Steer is covering first base Friday.

Busch is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Marlins.

With southpaw A.J. Puk toeing the slab for the Marlins, the left-handed hitting Busch will receive a day off. Garrett Cooper will handle the first base position for the Cubs on Friday.

Encarnacion-Strand did not play Wednesday due to illness, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Spencer Steer replaced him at first base.

It had earlier been reported that Encarnacion-Strand was merely resting -- his first day off of the season -- but Cincinnati manager David Bell confirmed the illness. Bell didn't provide specifics on the symptoms but indicated Encarnacion-Strand wasn't feeling well in advance of the three-game series in Seattle.