MLB Player News

Rizzo went 3-for-6 in Thursday's 9-3 win over Atlanta.

All three hits were singles, and Rizzo was unable to score any of the Cubs' nine runs, but it was still a solid night. He also hit leadoff for the second straight game, which could quickly become a more regular thing if he continues to excel in that spot. Ian Happ, who started the season as the team's leadoff hitter, was out of the lineup for the second straight day. When he returns, it will be interesting to see how the Cubs' batting order shakes out.

Raley was optioned to the Dodgers' alternate training site Thursday.

Raley had started five of the last seven games, and he slashed .206/.308/.324 with a home run, two RBI and 12 strikeouts in 14 games during his time on the active roster. However, he'll now return to the team's alternate training site after righthander Mitch White was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move.

Cabrera isn't starting Thursday's game against the Rockies.

Cabrera had gone 4-for-12 with two doubles, two runs and four strikeouts in the last three contests. Eduardo Escobar will shift to third base while Josh VanMeter starts at the keystone.

Hiura isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.

Hiura has recorded hits in each of the last three contests, but he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight game. Daniel Vogelbach will take over at first base and bat second.

Beaty came through with a two-run single in a pinch hit appearance Wednesday against Cincinnati.

Beaty made his lone trip to the plate in the contest count, driving in a pair of runs with a single to left field in the eighth inning. All four of his RBI this season have come in the past two days, and he has now reached base via hit or walk in four of his last five plate appearances. Beaty has yet to record an extra-base hit this season but has registered a 5:6 BB:K while serving primarily as a pinch hitter.

Freeman went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBI and two runs in Wednesday's 10-0 rout of the Cubs.

He took Alec Mills deep in the sixth inning for his seventh homer of the year -- one of five long balls by Atlanta on the night. Freeman appears to have found his form at the plate, as he's slashed .316/.469/.605 with three home runs and eight RBI across his last 11 games.

Bell went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Blue Jays.

He capped the scoring on the night with a fifth-inning blast off Ty Tice. Bell has struggled to find his timing at the plate to begin the season, and Wednesday's homer -- only his second of the year -- snapped an 0-for-15 skid.

Cronenworth slugged a solo home run in his only at-bat during a win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Cronenworth entered the contest having collected only two hits over his past 24 at-bats before smashing a 409-foot solo shot to right field in the sixth inning. The long ball was his second of the campaign and accounted for his fifth RBI. The 27-year-old is slashing .260/.345/.396 across 96 plate appearances.

Goldschmidt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Wednesday against the Phillies.

Goldschmidt was one of the few sources of offense for the Cardinals when he drove his third home run of the season over the wall in the third inning. Although that was his first long ball since April 19, Goldschmidt has now driven in seven runs across his last six games. For the season, he's hitting .234/.280/.372 with 14 runs and 14 RBI across 100 plate appearances.

Rizzo went 1-for-4 in Wednesday's 10-0 loss to Atlanta.

The batting line and final score are nothing to write home about, but more noteworthy here is the fact that Rizzo batted leadoff. It was his first time doing so this season, though the Cubs have experimented with this in the past. Ian Happ didn't start in this one -- and he could potentially return to the top of the order -- but Chicago is 10-14 and looking for an offensive spark. If Rizzo can help provide it from the leadoff spot, he may be able to stick there.