MLB Player News

Encarnacion-Strand started at first base and went 2-for-5 in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Cardinals.

Encarnacion-Strand has been the primary fill-in at first base while Joey Votto (shoulder) has been sidelined. That steady gig will end this weekend, as Votto is expected to return Sunday after a two-game rehab stint at Triple-A Louisville. Cincinnati manager David Bell will need to find opportunities for Encarnacion-Strand at designated hitter, third base or first base going forward. And there's motivation to find him spots in the lineup. Encarnacion-Strand is 14-for-35 (.400) with five extra-base hits and six RBI over the last nine games.

Votto (shoulder) went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

Votto began a short rehab assignment with the Bats, which is expected to last one more day before he's activated Sunday.

Goodman went 1-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored Friday against the Giants.

Goodman lined a pitch to center field in the second inning to tally his second career triple. He also has at least one hit in eight of his first 10 games in the majors, including five extra-base hits across 31 at-bats. Given that success, it's little surprise that the Rockies have found Goodman regular playing time, split evenly between first base and the outfield.

Flores went 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk and three RBI in Friday's 9-8 win over the Rockies.

Flores hasn't hit safely in consecutive contests in September, but he's gone 7-for-26 (.269) with three homers this month. The infielder got the Giants on the comeback trail with a two-run blast in the sixth inning and forced in the go-ahead run on a walk in the eighth. Flores' career year has him up to 22 long balls, 54 RBI, 49 runs scored and a .290/.356/.540 slash line through 108 games.

Wade is not in the lineup Friday against the Rockies.

Wilmer Flores will play first base and bat third with left-hander Ty Blach getting the start for Colorado. Wade has slashed just .250/.319/.344 in 75 plate appearances versus southpaws this year.

Hiura is currently sidelined at Triple-A Nashville due to right elbow discomfort, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The elbow has been bothering him for a while, per McCalvy, and the 27-year-old has been sent for imaging scans as the Brewers try to sort out the exact nature of the issue. Hiura has yet to be given a look in the majors this season, and it might not happen at all now, but he boasts a .308/.395/.565 slash line with 23 home runs and 77 RBI through 85 games at Triple-A.

Cooper is not in the lineup Friday against the Astros.

Matt Carpenter will play first base and bat seventh versus the Astros and right-hander Hunter Brown. Cooper has struggled against righties this year, but he should generally be the Padres' primary first baseman with Jake Cronenworth (wrist) unlikely to return this season.

Votto (shoulder) could be activated from the injured list as early as Sunday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Votto is set to begin a minor-league stint Friday with Triple-A Louisville, and the Reds apparently don't think he'll need much time to get back up to speed. The 39-year-old has been sidelined since Aug. 24 because of a mild strain in his troublesome left shoulder. He's appeared in only 51 major-league games this season.

Votto (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Votto began easing back into hitting drills about a week ago and evidently things must have gone well. The Reds have not set a target date for his return to the lineup, as they no doubt want to see how his shoulder responds in game action first. Votto has been on the shelf for the last two weeks with a left shoulder strain, which is the same shoulder he had surgically repaired last year.

Olson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and a walk in Thursday's 8-5 victory against St. Louis.

Olson belted one of five Atlanta homers in the win, slugging a 410-foot shot to center field in the fifth inning. It was his fourth consecutive contest with a long ball, increasing his MLB-leading total in that category to 47. During the homer streak, Olson has gone 8-for-15 with four RBI and six runs scored.