MLB Player News

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.

Abreu went 2-for-6 with a home run, three RBI and a walk Friday night against the Phillies.

Abreu belted a two-run homer in the third inning to give the White Sox an early lead, and he drove home the game-winning run in the 15th on a single to left field. The 32-year-old first baseman is slashing .264/.301/.477 with 23 home runs and 77 RBI over 106 contests this season.

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.

Cron (thumb) has returned to the team from his rehab assignment, though the Twins have yet to announce when he'll be activated from the injured list, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Cron embarked on a rehab stint Wednesday, and it appears that he's completed his time in the minors. Expect Minnesota to reinstate the 29-year-old sometime over the weekend.

Voit (sports hernia) received a cortisone injection and will be re-evaluated next week to determine whether surgery is necessary, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

Voit landed on the injured list Wednesday after being diagnosed with a sports hernia and is potentially facing a six-week absence. The hope is that the injection will eliminate the immediate need for surgery, thus reducing his return timetable. Regardless, the 27-year-old should be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks.

Gurriel is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Gurriel went 0-for-4 on Thursday to snap his 18-game hit streak, so he'll receive a breather after the impressive run at the plate. The 35-year-old finished July with a .398/.427/.837 slash line and 12 home runs in 24 contests. Aledmys Diaz steps in at first base for the Astros.

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.

Guerrero went 3-for-5 with two home runs, a double and four RBI in Thursday's win over Baltimore.

Guerrero got the scoring started with a two-run homer to center field in the third inning before lashing a run-scoring double in the sixth and a 450-foot solo shot in the eighth. The three-hit effort was the ninth in his young career and extended his streak of reaching base to 13 consecutive games. Over that span, the 20-year-old has hit .400 (20-for-50) with five homers and 21 runs batted in.

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.