MLB Player News

Votto (illness) will remain out of the lineup for Monday's game against Cleveland.

Votto tested negative for COVID-19 and is able to rejoin his teammates, but he won't be back in the lineup just yet. He's yet to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list, though that move could still happen in time for him to fill a bench role. Christian Colon starts at first base in his absence.

Votto tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday and could be activated from the injured list as soon as Monday night's game against Cleveland, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Votto self-reported coronavirus-like symptoms and landed on the COVID-19 injured list Sunday, but players are eligible to be activated from that list quite quickly if they never test positive for the virus. It turns out that the first baseman was dealing with an ordinary illness, and while there's no guarantee he returns right away, his absence shouldn't last too much longer.

Voit went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 9-7 win over the Red Sox.

Voit's fifth-inning blast was one of many counter-punches in the back-and-forth battle between the teams. The first baseman is up to three homers, six RBI and four runs scored in seven games this season. He's also struck out 10 times in 27 plate appearances.

Smith should step into an increased role after Yoenis Cespedes opted out of the 2020 season Sunday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports.

Smith received the start in left field Sunday and went 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts, and he should be in the lineup more going forward with Cespedes opting out. Smith appeared in 89 games last season and had somewhat of a breakout year with a .282/.355/.525 slash line and 11 home runs, but he entered 2020 as the odd man out for playing time. Most of his time figures to come as the designated hitter since he remains subpar defensively at first base and in the outfield.

Cron is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Reds.

Cron batted cleanup during the matinee and went 0-for-2 with a run scored and a walk. The 30-year-old is in the midst of a 1-for-18 slump over his last six games. Jordy Mercer is starting at first game in the second game of the twin bill.

Cronenworth will start at first base and bat ninth Sunday against the Rockies.

Making his third start in five games at first base, the lefty-hitting Cronenworth looks poised to occupy the strong side of a platoon with Ty France at the position while Eric Hosmer (illness) is on the injured list. Cronenworth has batted in the bottom third of the order in all of his starts thus far, and his low placement in the lineup and lack of a full-time role could limit his utility to NL-only leagues.

France is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

With Eric Hosmer (illness) moving to the injured list ahead of Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Rockies, France drew his second start of the season at first base, going 0-for-2 to snap a four-game hitting streak to begin the campaign. The lefty-hitting Jake Cronenworth will pick up his third start in five games at first base in the series finale, so it looks like the right-handed-hitting France could have to settle for short-side platoon work at the position while Hosmer is sidelined.

O'Hearn is out of the lineup Sunday against the White Sox.

O'Hearn is usually a fixture in the lineup against righties like Chicago's Dylan Cease, but he'll exit the lineup to make room for Salvador Perez, who is getting a day off behind the plate and starting at first base instead. Since being activated from the COVID-19 injured list Monday, O'Hearn has gone 6-for-18 with two doubles, a walk, two runs and five RBI.

Naylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

The 23-year-old leads the Rockies with three starts as the designated hitter through 10 games, as the team is often utilizing it to give the lineup regulars a day out of the field. Naylor is 1-for-10 with three strikeouts in four appearances. Manny Machado will be the DH while Greg Garcia starts at third base Sunday.

Smith is starting in left field and batting seventh Sunday against the Braves, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Smith is tied for second on the team with five RBI through nine games, though Sunday will be only his fourth start of the season. The 25-year-old is likely to continue being utilized in a reserve role but could push for a larger role with continued strong performances at the plate.