MLB Player News

Walker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Padres.

Walker launched his third home run, and all three have come against right-handers even though Walker has started exclusively against lefties to this point. Manager Torey Lovullo says first base is not a platoon, but it looks like one. The manager is also having Jake Lamb take fielding practice at third base, so something's brewing on the right side of Arizona's infield.

Alonso sits for the first time this season Tuesday against the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Alonso certainly hasn't done anything to suggest he should be removed from the lineup through his first four games, going 7-for-17 at the plate with three doubles and a homer. The Mets may simply want to keep Dominic Smith fresh.

Walker went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Monday's 10-3 win over the Padres.

Walker has come out of the gate hitting, going 6-for-11 with two home runs and two doubles in four games, presenting a challenge for manger Torey Lovullo: how to get both starting first baseman Jake Lamb and Walker, his backup, in the lineup at the same time. Lovullo began setting the stage Monday. Before Walker mashed another left-hander, Lamb took groundballs at third base during batting practice Monday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. By having Lamb get comfortable at the hot corner, his old position, Lovullo is establishing a path forward to get Walker more playing time while keeping Lamb's bat in the lineup.

Alonso went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer in Monday's 7-3 win over Miami.

Alonso's home run, the first of his career, gave the Mets a four-run cushion after entering the ninth inning all tied up at 3-3. The highly-touted prospect is 7-for-17 with four extra-base hits to start his MLB career. He's absolutely worth a roster spot in all fantasy leagues right now.

Smith will draw the start at first base Tuesday against the Marlins, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Smith is 1-for-3 with two RBI, a walk and a run scored through the first three games of the season, and manager Mickey Callaway will elect to insert Smith's left-handed bat into the starting lineup with Jose Urena (knee) slated to toe the rubber for the opposition. Pete Alonso will likely take a seat as a result.

Manager Don Mattingly said Cooper underwent an MRI that revealed a mild left calf strain, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.

Cooper suffered the injury over the weekend and was sent to the IL as a result. The 28-year-old said he isn't expected to resume baseball activities for a few weeks, suggesting his stay on the shelf could last more than a month. Peter O'Brien, who has started in right field each of the past two games, looks poised to fill in for Cooper for the time being.

Arias will begin the 2019 season at High-A Lake Elsinore, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Arias will advance another rung on the minor-league ladder after playing exclusively at Low-A Fort Wayne in 2018. While Arias' .654 OPS and 29.6 percent strikeout rate over 504 plate appearances wasn't anything to write home about, his numbers were far more impressive after considering that he was the youngest full-time player in the Midwest League.

Goldschmidt went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Brewers on Sunday.

Goldschmidt extended the Cardinals' lead to 4-1 with a monster 445-foot shot to center in the fifth inning. The 31-year-old has hit safely in three straight games, with the highlight of that early season streak his three-homer barrage last Friday. With seven RBI in the season-opening series, Goldschmidt unsurprisingly already looks like one of the most pivotal components of the Cardinals lineup just four games into his tenure.

Alonso went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and an RBI in Sunday's loss to the Nationals.

The rookie hasn't yet connected on his first big-league homer, but he's done just about everything else, going 6-for-12 with three doubles and three RBI in his first three games with the Mets. Alonso's spot in the two hole gives him tremendous fantasy upside even in re-draft formats, so while there will probably be growing pains ahead, he should be a lineup fixture until big-league pitchers start to figure him out.

Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's loss to Texas.

Rizzo belted his first long ball of the 2019 campaign in the sixth inning to put Chicago ahead 8-5, but the Cubs would end up dropping the series finale. The 29-year-old slugger finished the team's opening weekend with three hits, three RBI and four walks in 11 at-bats.