MLB Player News

Torkelson went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's win over the Royals.

Torkelson popped his 30th home run of the season in the 7-3 win, giving him six long balls this month. That's on top of nine home runs in August, as the youngster has upped his power output down the stretch. Torkelson could still stand to improve his .233 batting average from this season in future years, but he's a legitimate slugger who has plenty of fantasy upside.

The Angels optioned Walsh to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.

Mickey Moniak's (back) return from the 10-day IL will force Walsh back to the minors after he was selected from Triple-A on Sept. 14. Walsh has slashed just .135/.158/.378 through 38 plate appearances across 11 games in that span, and he will likely need to bounce back in a big way next spring in order to carve out a role for himself in the majors.

Manager Oliver Marmol said Goldschmidt is out of the lineup Thursday at Milwaukee due to back tightness, Bally Sports Midwest reports.

Goldschmidt also sat Wednesday, though Marmol indicated that the back issue is nothing serious. "We want to make sure he's good to play when we get back home in front of our own fans [for the final weekend in St. Louis]," Marmol said Thursday. "No reason to really push through it today." Luken Baker has been filling in at first base.

O'Hearn isn't in the Orioles' lineup Thursday against Boston, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

O'Hearn will step out of the lineup as the O's are set to face a left-handed pitcher (Chris Sale) for the second game in a row. Ryan Mountcastle will cover first base while O'Hearn sits, moving Adley Rutschman into the DH spot with James McCann behind the plate.

Goldschmidt remains out of the lineup Thursday at Milwaukee.

There's no word of an injury, but Goldschmidt did not play in the Cardinals' 3-2 loss to the Brewers on Wednesday and will ride the pine again in Thursday's series finale. Luken Baker is starting at first base as Juan Yepez fills the DH role.

Alonso went 5-for-8 with two doubles, a home run, four total runs and two RBI in Wednesday's doubleheader split against the Marlins.

The first baseman did most of his damage in an 11-2 rout during the matinee, coming a triple short of the cycle and launching his 46th homer of the season in the first inning off Braxton Garrett. Alonso has four games left on the Mets' schedule to reach 50 homers for the second time in his career.

Freeman went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Rockies.

Freeman put the game out of reach for the Dodgers in the eighth inning with a 412-foot, three-run shot to right field. It was his second homer in as many days following a 23-game stretch during which he went deep just once. Freeman's three RBI in the win pushed his total to 101 on the campaign, marking his second straight triple-digit RBI season and the fourth of his big-league career. He's also tallied a career-high 23 thefts while belting 28 long balls, scoring 128 runs and posting a standout .333/.412/.368 slash line over 713 plate appearances.

Cooper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Wednesday's 5-2 extra-inning win over the Giants.

Cooper tied the game at 2-2 with his seventh-inning blast. The first baseman logged just his second multi-hit effort in September, a month in which he's gone 10-for-48 (.208) with three homers and nine RBI over 18 games. He's at a .254/.306/.426 slash line with 17 homers, 18 doubles, 61 RBI, 42 runs scored and no stolen bases through 121 games between San Diego and Miami this year.

Flores (knee) is starting at third base and batting third Wednesday against San Diego, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Flores missed two straight starts due to soreness in his right knee, but he was able to pinch hit during Tuesday's contest and will now return to the lineup Wednesday. The 32-year-old has been in a bit of a skid at the plate recently, going just 2-for-13 across his last six games.

Choi is absent from the lineup Wednesday against the Giants.

Garrett Cooper will start at first base and bat sixth as the Padres roll out a righty-heavy attack versus Giants left-hander Sean Manaea. Choi remains hitless in 33 plate appearances with San Diego and carries a .125/.211/.313 slash line versus lefties this year.