MLB Player News

Goldschmidt (back) will re-evaluated Friday "and in the days to come," Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Goldschmidt was held out of the lineup Thursday after his back locked up on him. He's officially considered day-to-day, and manager Mike Shildt's comments suggest his absence may extend for several games. If that is the case, John Nogowski and Matt Carpenter are candidates to take over duties at first base.

Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the Pirates.

Rizzo was off to slow start, slashing just .105/.250/.158 through six games coming into Thursday, so his first home run of the season was a welcome sight. Kris Bryant and Javier Baez also went deep in the win, and if all three players get going, the Cubs could have a fairly strong offensive attack, with Rizzo right in the center of the action.

Goldschmidt isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers due to lower-back tightness, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Goldschmidt had started each of the first six games of the season and went 8-for-26 with six runs and two RBI. Matt Carpenter will slide to first base and bat second Thursday while Tommy Edman starts at second base and leads off. It's not yet clear whether Goldschmidt will be forced to miss additional time.

Cron isn't starting Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Cron started each of his first six games with Colorado and went 4-for-21 with two doubles, five runs, one RBI and seven strikeouts. Josh Fuentes will take over at first base for Thursday's series finale against Arizona, batting sixth.

Bohm went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Mets.

His first-inning blast was his first home run and extra-base hit of the season, while his steal later in the game was his second of the year. Bohm has a modest four-game hit streak going and five RBI in six games overall, but it's his early display of speed after stealing only one base in 44 games last year as a rookie that has carried the most fantasy intrigue.

Hoskins went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Mets.

The 28-year-old slugged his first homer of the season in the first inning before adding two-baggers in his next two trips to the plate, with all three extra-base hits coming off Mets starter David Peterson. Hoskins has been on fire to begin the season, collecting a hit in six straight games and posting three straight multi-hit performances to give him a .417 batting average and .792 SLG.

Rizzo went 0-for-3 with a walk in Wednesday's loss to the Brewers and is slashing just .105/.250/.158 through six games.

Rizzo delivered an RBI double on Opening Day and had another hit in the Cubs' second game, but he's gone hitless since then. The Chicago lineup is struggling across the board, which was a trend during the 2020 season as well. Rizzo is clearly talented enough to get hot in a hurry, but so far he hasn't provided much to fantasy managers.

Freeman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Nationals.

The first baseman launched one of four solo homers off Max Scherzer on the afternoon, taking the veteran right-hander deep in the first inning. Freeman's blast was his first hit this season, but there's little reason for concern with a player who hasn't posted an OPS below .893 since 2015.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Phillies.

He got the Mets on the board by taking Chase Anderson deep in the fourth inning. Smith wasn't in the starting lineup for the team's belated season opener with a lefty on the mound for the Phillies, and if manager Luis Rojas continues to use him in a strict platoon, it will put a ceiling on Smith's fantasy value despite the upside he showed with the .993 OPS he posted in 2020.

Alonso went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Phillies.

He took David Hale deep in the ninth inning to give the Mets some extra cushion. It was Alonso's first homer of the year after a 1-for-4 showing in the team's belated season opener, and already the 70th of his career in only 220 games.