MLB Player News

Cron went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk in a 5-0 shutout of the Dodgers on Sunday.

Cron opened the scoring on the afternoon with a three-run shot to left off Los Angeles starter Mitch White in the first inning, walked in the seventh and singled in the ninth to reach base three times for the second time in the last six contests. The long ball was his 24th of the year, leaving him one short of his 2019 total and keeping him within striking distance of the career-high 30 round trippers he belted in 2018.

Bell went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Sunday's 9-4 loss to the Mets.

The first baseman took Mets starter Tylor Megill deep for a two-run blast in the fourth inning, then followed up with a solo shot off Jeurys Familia in the eighth. Bell has gone deep six times in 24 games in August while batting .256 (22-for-86). For the year, he's slashing .250/.314/.477 with 23 long balls, 73 RBI, 59 runs scored and 16 doubles in 423 plate appearances.

Alonso went 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in Sunday's 9-4 win over Washington.

Washington pitchers found a way to stymie the first baseman for two games, ending his 11-game hitting streak. Alonso bounced back with a vengeance in a productive Sunday afternoon contest. The 26-year-old bumped his slash line back up to .262/.343/.503 with 29 home runs, 76 RBI, 64 runs scored and three stolen bases through 498 plate appearances.

Goldschmidt, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI single, a run-scoring double and a bases-loaded walk in a win over the Pirates on Saturday, went into Sunday's series finale with 22 RBI in 24 August games and a .333 average with runners in scoring position on the season.

The slugger has been raking throughout the second half of the season and has served as one of the best clutch hitters in all of baseball of late. Goldschmidt's RBI career high is a lofty and likely unreachable 125 (2013); however, at 77 RBI with 34 games remaining, he would appear to have a fighting chance of eclipsing the 97 runs he knocked in back in 2019, which currently serves as his best tally over the last four campaigns.

Smith is not in the lineup Sunday against Washington, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Smith is 2-for-27 in his past eight appearances and will take a seat for the second consecutive game. Kevin Pillar, who homered twice in Saturday's victory, will receive the start in left field for the Mets.

Rivas will start at first base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the White Sox.

The 24-year-old Rivas was recalled from Triple-A Iowa before Saturday's game but did not appear in the contest. He'll now make his MLB debut Sunday after slashing .284/.405/.411 with four home runs, 32 RBI and 35 walks in 237 plate appearances for Iowa. Rivas will give the Cubs some depth at first base, though Frank Schwindel has emerged as the starter there in the wake of the Anthony Rizzo trade.

Wade went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's 5-0 win over Atlanta.

The third-inning theft was Wade's first steal since July 22. Despite hitting leadoff against right-handed pitching, Wade hasn't provided much of a speed threat this year with four stolen bases and two triples through 269 plate appearances. He's added a solid .245/.315/.510 slash line with 17 home runs, 43 RBI and 38 runs scored.

Smith isn't starting Saturday's game against the Nationals, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News

Smith went 0-for-6 with a walk and two strikeouts across the last two games and will get a breather with left-hander Sean Nolin starting for the Nationals. Jeff McNeil will shift to left field while Jonathan Villar enters the lineup at third base.

The Cubs selected Rivas' contract from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed a strong offensive season in Iowa, hitting .284/.405/.411 with four home runs, 32 RBI and 35 walks in 237 plate appearances. With the Cubs, Rivas will be primed to make his major-league debut. He'll provide depth at first base and in the corner outfield for however long he remains on the major-league roster.

Goldschmidt went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple in a win over the Pirates on Friday.

There seems to be no end in sight to Goldschmidt's second-half surge, much to the delight of fantasy managers. The veteran slugger has been especially lethal during the latter portion of August, as he's compiled a .404 average, 1.227 OPS and 11 extra-base hits (seven doubles, Friday's triple, three home runs) while striking out at a minuscule 6.0 percent clip over 50 plate appearances.