MLB Player News

Gurriel went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a stolen base and two walks in a 4-3 win over the White Sox on Thursday.

Gurriel sent his team home happy with a game-winning single in the ninth inning. He also stole his third base of the season and first since June 2. Despite just five homers on the season, Gurriel owns a .300 average with 40 RBI and just 32 strikeouts.

Bour went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Thursday's 14-12 loss to the Nationals.

He slugged a two-run shot off Jeremy Hellickson to give the Marlins a nine-run lead in the fourth inning that they would somehow squander. Bour is up to 14 home runs through 348 plate appearances and Thursday's long ball was his first since June 25.

Freeman (triceps) will start at first base and bat third in Thursday's tilt against Milwaukee, David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

As expected, Freeman will play in the series opener after getting hit by a pitch on his triceps Wednesday. The 28-year-old first baseman will look to build on his stellar numbers at the plate, as he's batting .308 with 16 home runs and 56 RBI through 85 games in 2018.

Abreu fouled a ball off his injured ankle Wednesday and was in obvious pain, but remained in the game, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Abreu missed Tuesday's game after fouling a ball off his left ankle Monday. He returned to the lineup Wednesday, but only if he would wear a shin guard, at the insistence of manager Rick Renteria. ''I'll be carrying this and making sure he's wearing it every day,'' Renteria said. ''If he wants to stay in the lineup, he has to wear this.'' There was no babying Abreu, who played in the field Wednesday.

Gurriel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Wednesday's win over the Rangers.

Gurriel's solo blast in the fifth inning tied the score at four, and that's where the score stood until Houston plated the winning run in the top of the 10th. Boosted by a strong month of June, the 34-year-old is slashing .296/.322/.426 on the year to go along with five homers and 39 RBI.

Calhoun went 3-for-5 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored Wednesday against the Mariners.

Calhoun started the year with a horrendous .145/.195/.179 line through the end of May, but he's been quite good since returning from an oblique injury in mid-June. In his last 15 games, he's hit .306 with four home runs.

Bell is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Bell will be stationed on the bench for the second time in the three-game series while the Dodgers bring a lefty (Rich Hill) for the third straight day. David Freese will once again cover first base in place of Bell, who is a career .250/.328/.417 hitter against southpaws.

The Reds optioned Dixon to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Dixon was dropped from the 25-man roster with the Reds in need of extra bullpen help after seven relievers were used in Tuesday's 12-inning loss to the White Sox. During his six-week stint in the big leagues, Dixon saw action in 29 games and slashed .219/.265/.344 in 34 plate appearances. It shouldn't be long before he's summoned back to the big club.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said that Freeman (triceps) is "fine" and will likely be included in the lineup Thursday in Milwaukee, David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Atlanta received a scare when Freeman was hit by a pitch in the right triceps during a second-inning at-bat, which later resulted in the slugger's departure from the contest. Freeman felt some tightness shortly after the incident, but it seems his removal was mostly precautionary. If the first baseman is able to complete batting practice Thursday without any complications, he shouldn't be forced to miss any additional time due to the injury.

Freeman exited Wednesday's contest due to a right upper arm contusion.

Freeman was forced to exit the game after being hit by a pitch on the right elbow in the second inning. Consider him day-to-day ahead of Thursday's series opener in Milwaukee.