MLB Player News
-
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Snaps drought
Encarnacion-Strand went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 11-7 win over the Brewers.
Encarnacion-Strand ended a string of 18 at-bats without a hit when he belted a solo homer to lead off the fourth inning. The blast was his second of the season. He's been the Reds' primary first baseman and does not appear to be in danger of losing that role at this time despite a .172 average. That could eventually happen if he continues to struggle, but manager Terry Francona has limited options due to injuries.
-
Carlos Santana 1B | CHC
Guardians' Carlos Santana: Slugs first long ball
Santana went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run, an additional RBI and a walk against the Angels in Saturday's 10-4 loss.
Santana knocked in half of Cleveland's runs in the contest, launching a solo homer to center field in the first inning and adding an RBI groundout in the third. The veteran first baseman has been a steady presence in the Guardians' lineup this season, as he's gotten at least one hit in six of his eight games and is slashing a sturdy .290/.343/.452 through 35 plate appearances.
-
Jonathan Aranda 1B | TB
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Records first homer of 2025
Aranda went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double Saturday against the Rangers.
Aranda started for the sixth time in seven games when the Rays have faced right-handed pitching to begin the season. While Saturday's long ball was his first of the season, he was already providing some power with five doubles. Aranda has only three RBI for the campaign, but he should have more opportunities to drive in runs thanks to his status as Tampa Bay's primary cleanup hitter.
-
Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Three hits in win
Goldschmidt went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, one RBI and one run scored in Saturday's 10-4 win over the Pirates.
Goldschmidt flied out in the first inning but reached base in each of his subsequent plate appearances. So far, he's hitting an impressive .345 with a homer, three RBI and seven runs scored across 33 plate appearances. The veteran seemed to be on the decline after a career-low .716 OPS in 2024, but hitting atop a potent Yankees lineup could make him a bargain this season.
-
Enrique Hernandez 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez: Homers in win
Hernandez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Phillies.
Hernandez gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead with a two-run shot off Aaron Nola in the second inning. The 33-year-old is just 3-for-26 on the season, but all three hits have been home runs. He's started five straight games at first base since Freddie Freeman (ankle) was placed on the injured list, though Hernandez is unlikely to remain a significant factor upon Freeman's return.
-
Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Goes deep in win
Torkelson went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Saturday's 7-2 win over the White Sox.
Torkelson has carried over a strong spring training performance into the regular season, as he's now batting .345 with two homers and a 1.127 OPS across eight games. The 25-year-old is seeing regular playing time in the early going, and if he can sustain his hot start, Torkelson could challenge the 31 home runs and 94 RBI he recorded during his breakout 2023 campaign, giving him plenty of fantasy value.
-
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: On base three times in loss
Guerrero went 2-for-3 with a walk in Friday's loss to the Mets.
The Blue Jays managed only four hits in total on the day, with George Springer collecting the other two. Guerrero is still looking for his first homer of 2025 and is batting .267 (8-for-30) with three doubles and three RBI, but the first baseman has reached base in all eight of Toronto's games so far. A breakout performance could come at any time.
-
Triston Casas 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Triston Casas: Doubles twice in win
Casas went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored in Friday's 13-9 win over St. Louis.
Casas, who belted his first home run of the season in Thursday's win over Baltimore, followed it up with two more extra-base hits Friday. The first baseman opened the season on a 2-for-21 run, but he appears to have found his swing over the last two games.
-
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Plates run in loss
Encarnacion-Strand went 0-for-3 with an RBI in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers.
Encarnacion-Strand ended the Reds' 35-inning scoreless streak with a run-producing sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. It was the first productive plate appearance in a while for Encarnacion-Strand, who doesn't have a hit over his last 20 plate appearances.