MLB Player News

Vaughn went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Friday's 10-8 win over the Reds.

Vaughn crushed a 406-foot homer off Nick Martinez in the Brewers' five-run third inning. He's now hit safely in 18 of his past 19 games, racking up seven home runs and 23 RBI during that stretch. While his season line still reads .245/.288/.434, the 27-year-old has slashed .343/.403/.648 with nine homers, 35 RBI and 18 runs scored across 120 plate appearances with Milwaukee.

Harper went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and two RBI in Friday's 6-2 win over the Nationals.

Harper opened the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning before going back-to-back with Kyle Schwarber in the seventh. While the first baseman is batting just .218 through 14 August contests, he's piled up 25 extra-base hits over 37 games since returning from the injured list June 30. For the year, he's slashing .258/.356/.497 with 19 homers, 53 RBI, 53 runs scored and 10 steals across 413 plate appearances.

The Brewers recalled Black from Triple-A Nashville on Friday.

The 26-year-old was up with the Brewers for a few days in late July and went 2-for-6 with two walks, a double, an RBI and a run in three games. Black will rejoin the big club ahead of the three-game set this weekend in Cincinnati, and he should have a path to playing time with Blake Perkins (bereavement) and Isaac Collins (paternity) away from the team.

Contreras (foot) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees.

Contreras was hit in the foot by a pitch Tuesday and will miss a second consecutive game despite a team day off Thursday, but the veteran catcher/first baseman isn't dealing with any structural damage. Alec Burleson will draw another start at first base.

Busch went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays.

Busch finished the series in Toronto with home runs on consecutive days, and he now has a career-high 24 long balls for the season along with a career-high 68 RBI. The first baseman gives the Cubs a powerful bat atop the lineup against righties, and while he doesn't offer a ton of speed on the bases, Busch has settled in as an effective albeit unconventional leadoff hitter.

Bernabel isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Bernabel will get a chance to rest his legs Thursday after going 1-for-11 with an RBI during Colorado's three-game set against the Cardinals. Kyle Farmer will step in to start at first base while batting eighth.

Busch went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two total RBI in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Busch got the scoring started with a home run against Toronto starter Kevin Gausman in the top of the third inning, his 23rd of the season, then chipped in a sac fly later in the game. The first baseman continues to mash against right-handed pitching with a .924 OPS and all but two of his long balls in those matchups. Busch's 23 home runs and 67 RBI are also both already career highs.

Lowe went 1-for-3 with two walks and a grand slam in Wednesday's 8-7 win over the Royals.

He got the fireworks started by hooking a Seth Lugo curveball over the fence in the right-field corner in the first inning. It was Lowe's first homer since July 19, ending a 20-game power drought, and his 16th of the season. The veteran first baseman still has some work to do to put his slump behind him, however -- in 23 contests since the All-Star break, he's batting only .160 (12-for-75) with three doubles, two long balls and seven RBI.

Rodriguez (elbow) underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery Tuesday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez is currently on the 60-day injured list and will not return this season, as he faces a multi-month rehab. Rodriguez last saw the field in early June but was injured while throwing a ball to second base in warmups between innings. He played in 18 games for the Pirates this season, slashing .173/.246/.250 with four doubles, two RBI, five runs scored and a 5:14 BB:K across 57 plate appearances.

The Brewers announced Tuesday that Hoskins (thumb) has progressed to on-field hitting and defensive work, MLB.com reports.

Hoskins remains on track to begin a rehab assignment in late August, just as the Brewers had anticipated when he was initially placed on the injured list July 7 due to a Grade 2 left thumb sprain. Since Hoskins landed on the shelf, Andrew Vaughn has posted a 1.055 OPS through his first 27 games with Milwaukee, and Vaughn's exceptional performance could put Hoskins on the outside looking in for an everyday role at first base when he returns from the 10-day injured list. The right-handed-hitting Hoskins should still have a clear path to playing time at either first base or designated hitter versus left-handed pitching once he's back to full health.