MLB Player News

Steer started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a walk, a home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 15-7 loss to the Cubs.

Steer belted the second of back-to-back home runs in the first inning to give the Reds an early lead. The homer snapped a 21-game drought for Steer, who has 19 for the season. With news that Jonathan India (foot) will begin a rehab assignment this week, Steer should serve as the primary second baseman for another handful of games. He's appeared in 10 games at the keystone already, which may be enough to qualify as a middle infielder depending on a fantasy league's rules.

Walker (elbow) went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Orioles.

Walker entered the game as a pinch hitter for Jace Peterson in the sixth inning, and he went yard in the ninth in his second at-bat after staying in at first base. Given he was able to play three innings in the field, it's unlikely Walker's elbow contusion will keep him out of the starting lineup much longer, especially since X-rays came back negative Saturday night. The first baseman's blast was his 30th of the season and his second in three September games. He's added a .271/.348/.529 slash line with 90 RBI, 71 runs scored and eight stolen bases through 133 games.

Olson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Dodgers.

Olson went 0-for-13 with one walk and four strikeouts over the first three games of this weekend's series versus the Dodgers. He got off the schneid Sunday with a seventh-inning homer, but that was the extent of Atlanta's scoring. The first baseman is up to 44 homers -- 10 more than he had last year -- while adding 113 RBI, 104 runs scored, a stolen base, 24 doubles, three triples and a .266/.373/.581 slash line over 136 games.

Reds manager David Bell said Sunday that Votto (shoulder) is "going through his strengthening [program]" and "adding more hitting," but the Reds haven't yet pinpointed a target date for his return from the 10-day injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Votto was first eligible to return from the IL on Sunday, but since he hasn't yet resumed full baseball activities, any potential return looks as though it'll be at least another week away. Christian Encarnacion-Strand should continue to serve as the Reds' primary first baseman while Votto remains on the shelf with a strained left shoulder.

Batten will start at third base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Giants.

Batten appears to have moved into the near-everyday lineup spot that was created when Jake Cronenworth (wrist) landed on the injured list Aug. 26. In addition to making one start at Cronenworth's usual post at second base, Batten has now picked up a pair of starts at third base and one at first base over the Padres' last four games. Manny Machado has been seeing more time at designated hitter of late as a result of Batten's addition to the Friars' infield mix.

Cooper is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Cooper has been operating as San Diego's primary first baseman over the past couple weeks, and he's succeeded in the role with an .805 OPS in his last 11 games. Matt Carpenter will start at first and bat seventh for Sunday's series finale versus San Francisco.

Montero will start at first base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Montero will pick up his third consecutive start Sunday, this time facing off against right-hander Kevin Gausman after he had previously re-entered the lineup versus a pair of southpaws to begin the series with Toronto. Following his call-up from Triple-A Albuquerque last weekend, Hunter Goodman had displaced Montero as the team's everyday first baseman, but manager Bud Black has now deployed Goodman at designated hitter and in right field for the rookie's last two starts. With Michael Toglia now sitting out for a third straight game and Goodman getting looks elsewhere, Montero looks like he'll settle back in as the Rockies' primary first baseman. Montero enters Sunday's contest with a .417/.488/.694 slash line over his past 11 contests.

Toglia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

The switch-hitting Toglia finds himself on the bench for the third game in a row, this time versus Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman after he had been excluded from the lineup against a pair of southpaws in the first two contests of the series. Dating back to Aug. 9, Toglia is slashing .127/.186/.291 with a 30.5 percent strikeout rate over a stretch of 17 games, and his ongoing slump may have prompted manager Bud Black to pull the plug on the youngster in an everyday role. Elehuris Montero will pick up a third straight start Sunday at Toglia's expense.

Walker (elbow) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Walker exited Saturday's contest with a right elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch and will be sidelined for at least one game. The 28-year-old already had X-rays come back negative, so he appears to have avoided a serious injury and should be considered day-to-day. Pavin Smith is starting at first base Sunday for Arizona.

Rivas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Rivas will take a seat for the second day in a row while the Pirates oppose another lefty (Zack Thompson) in the series finale. The righty-hitting Connor Joe will spell the lefty-hitting Rivas at first base.