MLB Player News

Gurriel went 3-for-5 with a grand slam in Friday's 10-6 win over the Mariners.

Gurriel's eighth-inning home run gave Houston insurance runs as it held on against the pesky Mariners. The homer was Gurriel's first of the season, but the 34-year-old has been putting a charge into the ball early on. Eight of his 15 hits have gone for extra bases and his .531 slugging and .225 ISO are career bests.

Bell went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in a 6-3 victory over the Nationals on Friday.

The 26-year-old is off to a nice start, slashing .295/.373/.568 with three homers, 10 RBI and six runs in 44 at-bats. That's certainly encouraging after last season's disappointment. Bell hit .261 with only 12 homers and 62 RBI in 2018.

Cabrera went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's 8-6 loss to the A's.

The veteran infielder came into this one on an 0-for-13 mini-skid in his prior four games, but Cabrera snapped out of it by taking Mike Fiers deep in the fourth inning for his fourth homer of the year. His .190/.255/.500 still leaves a lot to be desired, but the 33-year-old at least brought his power stroke with him to begin his tenure in Texas.

Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in a 5-1 victory over the Angels on Friday.

That bomb gives Rizzo 10 RBI and 10 runs this season, but he's off to a slow start in just about every other category. He's only 10-for-49 (.204) with three homers and a .408 slugging percentage this season. Rizzo hit .149 in the first month last season too and ended the year with a .283 average and 25 homers. With that in mind, it's far too early to panic over the Cubs first baseman.

Guerrero's arrival in the big leagues may not be only days away, Mike Wilner of Sportsnet 590 The Fan reports.

Guerrero has recovered from his oblique strain and is hitting well in the minors. He could have been called up Friday, as the Blue Jays have already secured an extra year of team control, and GM Ross Atkins reiterated that the prospect's promotion would come "sooner than later", but the club doesn't seem to be in any hurry to get the 20-year-old to the majors. It's possible that in a season in which the Blue Jays are not expected to compete for a playoff spot, the team will elect to maximize the believability that Guerrero is truly "working on his defense" rather than maximizing his number of big-league at-bats.

Tellez is not starting Friday against the Rays.

After making seven straight starts, Tellez finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games. He's hitting a modest .241 but has a .923 OPS and three homers. Lourdes Gurriel will be the designated hitter Friday.

Alonso is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Braves, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Alonso has started the last seven games at first base and slashed .370/.452/1.037 in that stretch with five home runs, but nonetheless takes a seat on the bench Friday. Dominic Smith will grab his second start of the season at first base and bat sixth in his absence.

Guerrero (oblique) went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored, four RBI and a stolen base for Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.

Baseball's top prospect could hardly have done more to convince the Jays that he's fully recovered from the oblique strain that cut short his spring. Guerrero's big-league debut seems like it will happen in a matter of days.

Bour is not in the lineup Friday against the Cubs, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

With the game in a National League park, regular designated hitter Albert Pujols will take Bour's usual spot at first base. Bour will likely start at least one of the games over the weekend.

Alonso went 2-for-4 with a walk and two-run home run Thursday against the Braves.

Alonso took a Jonny Venters offering deep to straightaway center field in the seventh inning. It was his sixth homer of the season and fifth in as many games. The rookie has impressed through 51 plate appearances, hitting .378/.451/.911.