MLB Player News

Flores went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Padres.

The homer was Flores' 20th of the year, setting a new career high for the 32-year-old infielder. It also opened the scoring, but the Padres quickly took control of the game in their half of the first inning. Flores has swatted five homers over his last 15 games while batting .246 (14-for-57) in that span. Overall, he's maintained a .291/.352/.533 slash line with 50 RBI, 46 runs scored and 20 doubles through 102 games as one of the steadiest bats in the San Francisco lineup.

Walker went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 4-2 win over the Orioles.

Walker lifted a sixth-inning blast to provide Arizona's final runs of the game. He'd ended August in a 10-for-46 (.217) slump over 13 games, with just one extra-base hit (a triple) in that span. The first baseman is up to 29 homers, 89 RBI, 70 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a .271/.347/.524 slash line through 131 contests on the season.

Beaty is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Red Sox.

Beaty will take a seat as the Royals face left-hander James Paxton. Salvador Perez will slot in at first base while Freddy Fermin enters the lineup at catcher and bats fifth in the opener with Boston.

Solano is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Rangers.

Solano will get a breather after he went 5-for-10 with an RBI and two runs scored while starting all three games of the team's series with Cleveland. Joey Gallo will take over at first base and bat ninth in the opener with Texas.

Votto (shoulder) remains shut down from baseball activities, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

It was reported last week that Votto should be ready to return from his left shoulder soreness by early September, but clearly that's not happening. Expect the Reds to use Christian Encarnacion-Strand at first base and Jake Fraley at designated hitter against righties until Votto is ready.

Candelario is absent from the lineup for the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Reds.

Cody Bellinger and Nick Madrigal will handle the corner infield spots and Christopher Morel will be the designated hitter. Candelario figures to be in the lineup for the second game.

Cooper isn't in the Padres' lineup Thursday against the Giants.

After going 0-for-9 across his last two games, Cooper will get a day off to regroup during Thursday's series opener. Matthew Batten will start at first base and bat eighth while Cooper rests.

Diaz went 1-for-4 with a double and a walk Wednesday against the Marlins.

Diaz has started a pair of games since returning from soreness caused by a hit by pitch. He hasn't been slowed by the issue, as he's reached base four times in 10 plate appearances since rejoining the lineup. Diaz hasn't been able to maintain the spike in power he showed at the beginning of the season, but he's maintained a .327 batting average and has racked up 79 runs scored across 113 games.

France (wrist) went 0-for-3 with a walk in a win over the Athletics on Wednesday.

France was back in the lineup and starting at first base after being removed from Tuesday's game due to getting struck on the left wrist during a pickoff attempt. The veteran infielder was able to get on base via a free pass to push his OBP over the last 11 games to an elite .404, and his ability to play a full game seemingly corroborates he'll be unimpeded by his wrist contusion moving forward.

Calhoun went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk in Wednesday's 5-2 extra-inning win over the Twins.

Calhoun had a quiet game until the 10th inning, when he swatted his third homer of the season. All three long balls have come since Aug. 19. The veteran has seen most of his playing time at first base since he was traded from the Dodgers to the Guardians in early August. He's slashing .273/.356/.455 with 15 RBI and 13 runs scored across 87 plate appearances. Once Josh Naylor (oblique) returns, either he or Calhoun take over as the primary designated hitter, while the other would likely handle first base.