MLB Player News

Flores went 1-for-1 with a double and two RBI in a 5-0 win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Flores entered in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and immediately smacked a two-run double, which accounted for only his third extra-base hit of the campaign. While he has been on the short side of the platoon with LaMonte Wade at first base, the Giants have found a way to get Flores' bat in the lineup situationally on a regular basis. The 32-year-old has yet to tally a home run in 2024, but given that his slugging percentage (.311) is woefully below his .439 career mark, his power could arrive in short order.

Gallo is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

Gallo started the previous 14 games and will take a seat after he posted a .170/.328/.447 slash line with three homers and a 43.1 percent strikeout rate during that stretch. Joey Meneses will start at first base versus Houston righty Justin Verlander.

Encarnacion-Strand (illness) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.

Encarnacion-Strand missed Wednesday's game due to an illness and still isn't ready to play following Thursday's off day. Spencer Steer is covering first base Friday.

Busch is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Marlins.

With southpaw A.J. Puk toeing the slab for the Marlins, the left-handed hitting Busch will receive a day off. Garrett Cooper will handle the first base position for the Cubs on Friday.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Lowe will need "about 30 [at-bats], could be more" during his minor-league rehab assignment before returning from the 10-day injured list, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

After kicking off his rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco last Friday, Lowe looked as though he could be ready to rejoin the Rangers by the weekend. However, Bochy's comments suggest that the Rangers are planning for Lowe to have a more extended stay in the minors to get his timing back at the plate before reinstalling him as their everyday first baseman. Lowe has since shifted his assignment to Triple-A Round Rock and has gotten in 16 at-bats over five total minor-league games, recording just one hit (a home run) while drawing two walks. If Bochy sticks to his estimate of Lowe needing about 30 at-bats before being activated, the 28-year-old seems poised to remain with Round Rock through the weekend before rejoining the Rangers for the start of their homestand next Tuesday.

Walsh is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers.

The lefty-hitting Walsh will close out the series in Detroit with two consecutive absences from the lineup, though Thursday's is more noteworthy since the Tigers are bringing a right-hander (Kenta Maeda) to the hill. Walsh has been operating in a strong-side platoon role at first base all season, but he's mustered an underwhelming .638 OPS through 60 plate appearances and looks at risk of losing work to Ezequiel Duran.

Encarnacion-Strand did not play Wednesday due to illness, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Spencer Steer replaced him at first base.

It had earlier been reported that Encarnacion-Strand was merely resting -- his first day off of the season -- but Cincinnati manager David Bell confirmed the illness. Bell didn't provide specifics on the symptoms but indicated Encarnacion-Strand wasn't feeling well in advance of the three-game series in Seattle.

Encarnacion-Strand is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Seattle.

He'll be riding pine for the first time this season while Spencer Steer replaces him at first base and Stuart Fairchild steps in as the Reds' No. 3 hitter. Before an 0-for-4 showing in Tuesday's 3-1 loss, Encarnacion-Strand had delivered exactly two hits in four of his preceding six starts.

Cronenworth (calf) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Cronenworth will get a second straight game off to heal up from a tight calf that forced him out of Monday's 7-3 win in the series opener. The Padres are hoping that a pair of days off plus Thursday's team off day will provide sufficient time for Cronenworth to recover before the start of this weekend's three-game series with Toronto. Matthew Batten will spell Cronenworth at first base Wednesday.

Walsh is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Detroit.

Left-hander Tarik Skubal is the Tigers' starting pitcher Wednesday, so the lefty-hitting Walsh will begin Wednesday's game on the bench. Ezequiel Duran will play first base.