MLB Player News

Wade (hamstring) is leading off and starting at first base Friday in Washington.

He exited Tuesday's game with cramping in his left hamstring, but Wade is ready to return to action for a favorable matchup against righty Jake Irvin. Wade will likely start again Saturday with righty Josiah Gray on the bump for the Nats before heading to the bench Sunday against lefty MacKenzie Gore.

Vaughn (foot) is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Twins.

Vaughn will miss a third straight game as he nurses a foot injury, though he'll likely be able to return to the lineup in the near future after X-rays turned up negative. Gavin Sheets will start at first base and bat seventh in the series opener with Minnesota.

Hall was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

With Bryce Harper making his first start at first base Friday and Kyle Schwarber being used at designated hitter, Hall is headed back to the minors. He has just a .437 OPS at the big-league level this season.

Ellis was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

Ellis has gone 5-for-23 with a couple homers during his time in the majors this season. He wasn't going to be playing much with Josh Harrison back from the injured list.

Smith is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

The Giants are sending southpaw Alex Wood to the mound, so the left-handed hitting Smith will begin this one on the bench. Michael Chavis is handling first base.

Flores went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Reds.

The Giants put just four runners on base, and Flores accounted for half of those instances. The infielder has taken advantage of more playing time in July, batting .417 (20-for-48) over 14 contests this month. He's also homered four times in his last four games. For the season, he's at a .292/.349/.526 slash line with 12 homers, 31 RBI, 29 runs scored and 13 doubles over 232 plate appearances. Until LaMonte Wade (hamstring) is ready to play, Flores will likely see a majority of the work at first base.

Olson went 2-for-4 with two homers and three RBI in Thursday's 7-5 win over the Diamondbacks.

Olson's two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh inning brought Atlanta back within one run. The first baseman then came right back in his next at-bat and smacked a solo home run, going back-to-back with Austin Riley to give his team a 7-5 lead. Olson continues to deliver at the plate, especially in July, as he's now batting .327 with four homers, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored for the month. His 32 home runs on the season also leads the National League.

Nola (jaw) is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

That's the timeline Noda received from an oral surgeon after he was diagnosed Wednesday with a fractured mandible. He suffered the injury Tuesday while taking pregame fielding practice and has already been placed on the injured list. Seth Brown is starting at first base and batting cleanup for the Athletics on Thursday versus the Astros.

X-rays taken Thursday on Vaughn's left foot turned up negative for any structural damage, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Vaughn missed the final two games of Chicago's three-game set against the Mets after fouling a ball off his left foot Tuesday, but he only has a bruise and is considered day-to-day. The 25-year-old first baseman could be ready to return to action in Friday's series opener at Minnesota.

Mountcastle isn't starting Thursday against the Rays, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Mountcastle will catch a breather Thursday after going 5-for-14 with two RBI across his last six games. Ryan O'Hearn will serve as Baltimore's DH while Anthony Santander draws the start at first and Colton Cowser mans right field.