MLB Player News

Freeman went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in a 4-3 victory against the Marlins on Sunday.

The Braves first baseman entered Sunday with a 1.123 OPS through eight games, but his on-base percentage was actually higher than his slugging. That changed, though, with Freeman hitting his first homer of the year. He is 13-for-31 (.419) with five extra-base hits and a league-leading 10 walks in nine games this season.

Diaz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a stolen base and a walk in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Giants.

Diaz had just one long ball in 265 at-bats with Cleveland from 2016-17 but has already drilled three in his first season as a Ray. The 28-year-old hit in the leadoff spot Sunday and has moved around in the lineup a bit to start the year. If he can continue flashing power, he should settle into the middle of the order, giving him more RBI chances in the process.

Alonso went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, a double, three RBI and two runs scored Sunday against the Nationals.

Alonso has been seeing the ball well recently, as he's now homered in back-to-back contests. The 24-year-old first baseman is batting .382 with nine extra-base hits and 11 RBI through nine games in 2019.

Diaz will start at first base and lead off in Sunday's game against the Giants, Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reports.

Diaz will occupy the leadoff spot for the third time this season, with each of those assignments coming against left-handed pitching. The Rays are expected to continue to deploy a platoon atop the order for the foreseeable future, with the lefty-hitting Austin Meadows setting the table on most occasions.

Calhoun (knee) won't start in Sunday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The Angels have yet to reveal who will replace Calhoun in right field, but the 31-year-old will be afforded at least one day off after bruising his right knee in Saturday's contest. Fortunately for Calhoun, he said he noticed improvement when reporting to the park Sunday and should be available off the bench. Calhoun would seem to have decent odds of rejoining the lineup at some point during the three-game series with Milwaukee that begins Monday.

Alonso went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Saturday's win over the Nationals.

The rookie has been even better than expected to begin his MLB career, slashing .367/.406/.733 with two homers and eight RBI through eight games. Alonso has struck out 11 times, and he'll have to make some adjustments eventually once pitchers get a book on him, but he is very quickly proving he's the long-term answer at first base for the Mets.

Flores is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Flores received the starting nod Saturday but will return to the bench for the third time in the last four games. The 27-year-old has gotten off to a slow start by slashing .227/.293/.318 through 24 plate appearances. Ketel Marte will move up to second base while Jarrod Dyson starts in center field Sunday.

Gurriel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Manager AJ Hinch relayed shortly after the lineup was released that Gurriel's absence is merely a planned rest day. With the 34-year-old heading to the bench for the series finale, utility man Aledmys Diaz will enter the lineup and make his first MLB start at first base.

Cron will start at first base and bat second Sunday against the Phillies.

Cron has regularly been hitting in the heart of the order for the Twins this season, but he'll move up a few spots with typical No. 2 hitter Jorge Polanco receiving the day off. Expect the slugger to move back to fourth or fifth in the order when the Twins kick off a two-game set in New York against the Mets on Tuesday.

Votto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

With no recent reports indicating that Votto is dealing with an injury, he's presumably just getting an early season breather in the series finale. After going 4-for-21 at the plate through the Reds' first six games, Votto's bat has woken up a bit in Pittsburgh the past two days, during which he's recorded a double and his first home run of the season. Derek Dietrich will fill in for Votto at first base for Sunday's matinee game.