MLB Player News

Smith isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against Miami, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Smith will retreat to the bench against left-handed starter Braxton Garrett. Joey Meneses will fill in at first base, moving Keibert Ruiz into the DH spot while Riley Adams starts behind the dish.

Freeman went 5-for-9 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI over both contests in Thursday's doubleheader sweep of the Guardians.

Freeman recorded three hits in the matinee, which was technically a continuation of Wednesday's suspended game. He added two more base knocks in the nightcap before being replaced in the field in the seventh frame with Los Angeles holding a comfortable lead. Freeman is up to 47 doubles on the campaign, matching the career high he set last season and leading the majors by a wide margin. Following an uncharacteristic six-game rough patch during which the All-Star first baseman went 2-for-20, Freeman has bounced back with a five-game hitting streak during which he is slashing .381/.381/.524 with three doubles, two RBI and a stolen base.

Votto (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the injured list in early September, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Votto was placed on the injured list Thursday due to left shoulder discomfort, a potential aggravation of the issue that forced him to miss nearly the first three months of the season. However, manager David Bell provided some clarification that Votto is expected to have a short stint on the shelf this time, with his earliest potential return being Sep. 3.

Cincinnati placed Votto on the 10-day injured list Thursday with left shoulder discomfort.

It's the same shoulder that required a surgical repair last year. Votto got off to an encouraging start when he finally joined the Reds in June, but he is slashing just .167/.262/.296 over his last 61 plate appearances dating back to Aug. 3. There is no timetable for his return from this latest setback.

Steer went 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBI in the first game of the Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of the Angels. He added a hit, two walks and an RBI in the nightcap.

Steer has hit safely in four consecutive games and has at least one RBI in three straight. He's driven in 12 runs during August, placing him atop the club with 70 RBI for the season. Steer, who has bounced around the order all season, has primarily batted cleanup this month.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Yankees on Wednesday.

Washington managed only three hits against a trio of New York pitchers, and Smith's ninth-inning solo shot accounted for the team's only run of the game. The long ball was the first for Smith since the All-Star break, though he's posted a .279 batting average over 111 at-bats during that span. Despite that decent mark, Smith doesn't produce enough to be a reliable fantasy asset -- he has just six homers, 34 RBI and one stolen base over 123 contests on the campaign.

Flores went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and a walk in Wednesday's 8-6 extra-inning win over the Phillies.

Flores opened the scoring in the first inning with a solo shot and added an RBI single in the third. He's hit safely in seven of his last eight games, going 10-for-30 (.333) with three homers and seven RBI in that span. The infielder is up to 18 long balls, 46 RBI, 43 runs scored and a .304/.365/.545 slash line through 95 contests this season. He remains an option primarily at designated hitter and the corner infield spots.

Votto isn't in the Reds' lineup for the second half of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Angels, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Left-hander Reid Detmers will take the mound for Los Angeles, so Votto will retreat to the bench for the start of Wednesday's nightcap. Christian Encarnacion-Strand will start at first base, and Spencer Steer will serve as the Reds' DH.

Toglia is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Tampa Bay.

Toglia slugged a home run in Tuesday's loss to the Rays but will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench. Charlie Blackmon is getting a start in right field and Jurickson Profar will be in the designated hitter spot while Toglia sits.

Tellez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Tellez started in both of the Brewers' first two games after he was reinstated injured list over the weekend, but the lefty-hitting first baseman/designated hitter has now been on the bench for the last two contests even as the Brewers have faced right-handers on both occasions. He was also removed for a pinch hitter in his first game back. Tellez should still ultimately see plenty of starts in the DH spot for Milwaukee, but perhaps not enough for him to be a viable mixed-league option outside of the deepest leagues. William Contreras is in the DH spot Wednesday, with Victor Caratini catching.