MLB Player News

Alonso is not starting Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Alonso started the last 12 contests but could use a day off with a .661 OPS during that stretch, including five consecutive games with multiple strikeouts. Todd Frazier slides over to first base Sunday while Adeiny Hechavarria receives the start at the hot corner.

Freeman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Freeman will take a seat Sunday for the first time since May 12, a stretch of 71 straight starts in which he posted a .963 OPS with 17 doubles, 19 homers and 63 RBI. It's only his second time on the bench all season. Austin Riley will enter the lineup at first base in his absence.

Cooper (hamstring) will serve as the designated hitter Saturday in Tampa Bay.

Cooper sat for the last two games with a hamstring issue, though he appeared off the bench in both contests. He's apparently not yet ready to take the field but will bat fifth as the DH on Saturday.

Votto went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored, three RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 5-2 win over Atlanta.

It was a vintage performance from Votto, displaying both power and patience, but nights like this have been few and far between this season for the 35-year-old. He has picked up the pace a bit lately, hitting .333 (16-for-48) over his last dozen contests, but on the year Votto is slashing .266/.350/.414 with 11 homers and 36 RBI in 102 games.

Alonso went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a walk and a run scored Friday against the Pirates.

Alonso kicked off the scoring in this one with a double to right field, but the Pirates would emerge with an 8-4 victory. The 24-year-old hit just .177 through 22 games in July, so he'll aim to turn things around at the dish in August.

Walker is not starting Friday against Washington.

Walker recorded a .911 OPS over 20 games in the month of July. He'll hit the bench Friday with Jake Lamb starting at first base.

Freeman went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Reds.

Freeman wasted no time in getting the Braves on the board with an opposite field three-run homer off Anthony DeSclafani in the first inning. The 29-year-old has put together an impressive campaign, slashing .305/.397/.563 with 26 home runs, 85 RBI and 83 runs scored.

Naylor was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.

Naylor figures to serve as the team's fourth outfielder after Franmil Reyes was traded away to Cleveland in a three-team deal earlier in the week. The 22-year-old outfielder hit .236/.287/.358 with three home runs and a stolen base in a 41-game stint with the Padres earlier in the season.

Cooper (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Cooper is still tending to a tight left hamstring, which he suffered while running to first base during an at-bat in Tuesday's 2-1 loss. The Marlins are hopeful that two days out of the lineup plus a team off day Friday will be enough for Cooper to return to action during the two-game set in Tampa Bay over the weekend. Neil Walker will man first base and bat cleanup in the series finale with the Twins.

Smith was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot and will remain in a walking boot for a few weeks, Matt Ehalt of Yahoo Sports reports.

Smith underwent a CT scan earlier in the week which apparently did not yield positive results. He'll be withheld from baseball activities for at least the next few weeks as a result, suggesting he won't be ready to return until the end of August, at the earliest. J.D. Davis should continue to see time in left field while Smith is on the shelf.