MLB Player News

Ortiz went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 7-0 win over the Cubs.

Ortiz delivered the biggest blow of Washington's five-run fifth inning, taking Kevin Gausman deep for a three-run homer. The rookie has wasted little time making an impact since his call-up, going deep four times in just 10 games. During that stretch, Ortiz is batting 9-for-28 (.321) with eight RBI, providing an immediate source of power in what was already baseball's top scoring lineup.

Stewart went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two RBI and three additional runs scored in Thursday's 9-8 win over the White Sox. He was also hit by a pitch.

Stewart crushed a Davis Martin slider, sending it 419 feet over the fence in left field. It was his 26th home run of the season. In Stewart's next plate appearance in the third, one pitch after Martin threw wild and inside, the right-hander plunked Stewart on the visor of the helmet, which set off a benches-clearing scene and resulted in Martin's ejection. Stewart also had a run-scoring single in the fourth inning and is up to 89 RBI over 120 games.

Freeman is starting at first and batting cleanup Thursday versus Milwaukee after feeling sore following Wednesday's 4-2 win over Kansas City, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Freeman fell into the dugout on the first-base side in an attempt to track a popup in foul territory Wednesday, which resulted in his departure from the game due to soreness in his right hand, knee and shoulder. As Freeman hoped following Wednesday's game, he's in the lineup for the series opener versus the Brewers.

Ortiz went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Cubs.

Andres Chaparro got the start at first base against southpaw David Peterson, but Ortiz came off the bench in the sixth inning and took Javier Assad deep. It was Ortiz's third homer in nine games since getting called up after the trade deadline, a stretch in which he's batting .292 (7-for-24) with five RBI while handling the strong side of a platoon at first base.

Freeman said that he is "just sore" after suffering a number of minor injuries when he fell into the opposing dugout during the eighth inning of Wednesday's 4-2 win over Kansas City , David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports. Freeman added that he's hoping to play in Thursday's series opener against the Brewers.

In a scary incident, Freeman plunged into the dugout while tracking a pop-up into foul territory. Team trainer Thomas Albert said afterward that Freeman has a sore right hand, knee, foot and shoulder, but Freeman downplayed the injuries in his postgame interview. The first baseman seems like he'll lobby to play right away in Thursday's series opener in Los Angeles, though the Dodgers could err on the side of caution and give Freeman a day off if he's experiencing any lingering soreness leading up to game time.

Freeman was removed from Wednesday's game against the Royals due to an apparent injury, Jack Harris of the California Post reports. He went 1-for-2 with a walk prior to his departure in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Freeman fell into the Royals' dugout while tracking a pop-up in foul territory during the eighth inning. He initially remained in the game but was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the frame. His ability to remain in the game for a while after the incident suggests he avoided a serious injury, though the Dodgers should provide more information on his condition in the near future.

Burleson went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and three RBI in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Phillies.

The two-bagger was Burleson's MLB-leading 30th of the season, and it brought home two runs as part of a fifth-inning rally that broke open a 1-1 tie. Burleson has been an RBI machine in August, batting .342 (13-for-38) through 11 games with three doubles, four homers, eight runs and 13 RBI.

Ortiz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

The Nationals will keep the left-handed-hitting Ortiz on the bench for the second day in a row while the Cubs send another lefty (David Peterson) to the hill. Andres Chaparro will spell Ortiz at first base and will bat second.

Vargas started at shortstop and went 0-for-3 in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Rockies.

Vargas filled in for the injured Geraldo Perdomo (knee). Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said prior to the game that Perdomo could be available off the bench -- he didn't play in the loss -- and implied the injury is not serious, per Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. Vargas, who has career highs in games played (105) and plate appearances (364) this season, has slipped back into a utility role off the bench and recently lost playing time at first base to Tim Tawa.

Olson went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored during Atlanta's 4-0 win over the Mets on Tuesday.

Olson doubled Atlanta's lead in the eighth inning when he took Chayce McDermott deep to right field for a 423-foot, two-run homer. It continues a hot stretch at the plate for Olson, who has eight long balls over his last 14 games and is up 35 home runs on the year. Not only is that now tied with Kyle Schwarber and Yordan Alvarez for most in the majors, but it is the third time in Olson's big-league career that he's recorded at least 35 homers in a season. Olson also ranks fourth in the majors this season in slugging percentage (.554) and ninth in OPS (.897) over 525 plate appearances.