MLB Player News

Smith is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Athletics.

Lefty Ken Waldichuk faces the Nationals, which is why Smith is not starting. On the season, Smith has a .599 OPS against lefties and a .720 OPS against righties. The 28-year-old also did not start in the Nationals' last game against a starting lefty Aug. 5.

Walker went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 3-0 win against the Padres.

Walker plated the final two runs in the low-scoring affair with his shot to right field in the third inning, helping Arizona end its nine-game losing streak. The first baseman is up to 24 homers and 73 RBI on the campaign, and he has a chance to challenge the career-best marks of 36 long balls and 94 RBI that he set last season. Walker has been hitting well of late, going 8-for-20 (.400) with two homers, a double and five RBI over his past five contests.

Olson went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double, two home runs, three runs scored and four RBI during a 21-3 rout of the Mets in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

The first baseman continued a power surge that has carried him to the major-league lead in homers with 42. Over his last 16 games, including a 1-for-4 showing with a walk and a run in Saturday's nightcap, Olson is batting .379 (22-for-58) with 10 long balls, 17 runs and 25 RBI.

Wade isn't in the Giants' lineup Saturday against Texas, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Left-hander Andrew Heaney will take the mound for Texas, so the left-handed bat of Wade will retreat to the dugout for the beginning of Saturday's game. Wilmer Flores will fill in at first base and bat third.

Rivas isn't in the Pirates' lineup Saturday against the Reds, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Left-hander Brandon Williamson is starting on the mound for the Reds, so the left-handed bat of Rivas will take a seat to begin Saturday's game. Connor Joe will start at first base instead and bat fourth.

Cronenworth went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in Friday's win against the Diamondbacks.

Cronenworth drilled a two-run shot during San Diego's four-run third inning. It was his 10th long ball of the year and second in his last five appearances immediately following a 25-game homerless drought. Despite the recent lack of power, Cronenworth has produced a 1.085 OPS over his last 13 games, raising his season slash line to .229/.315/.387 through 114 games.

Bell continued his hot hitting with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Yankees.

Bell's latest home run came from the left side of the plate as he pulverized a Randy Vasquez offering 407 feet to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. It was measured at 107.9 mph off the bat. Bell has now homered four times in nine games with the Marlins since coming over at the trade deadline, and three of those dingers have come in his last two contests.

Santana (illness) is starting at first base and batting third Friday against the White Sox.

Santana missed two starts due to illness, but he was able to serve as a pinch hitter during Wednesday's win over Colorado and will resume his duties as Milwaukee's first baseman to begin the series with the White Sox. Santana is slashing .163/.200/.302 across 45 plate appearances since joining the Brewers.

Montero went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Dodgers.

Montero produced the only run for the Rockies in the contest with a fifth-inning solo shot off future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. The long ball was a much-needed lift in a rough August so far for the infielder, as he came into Thursday batting just 3-for-29 with 15 strikeouts through seven games. Montero's woes weren't entirely solved despite the homer -- he struck out in each of his other two at-bats.

Steer went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to Miami

Steer belted the first of two homers that put the Reds on top in the fourth inning, but it was not enough to prevent the club's eighth loss in nine games. It's been a tough homestand for Steer, who is just 3-for-21 over those six games at Great American Ball Park .