MLB Player News

Marte (hamstring) began taking groundballs and swings in a batting cage Friday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

As Marte begins baseball activities, his timeline has become more clear. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo estimated a return for the final week of April or the first week of May. That provides much more definition than the "series of weeks" comment Lovullo offered up earlier this week. While Marte works his way back, Tim Tawa and Garrett Hampson will share second base.

Albies went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk in Friday's 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay.

Albies hadn't recorded a home run since Opening Day, but he took Edwin Uceta deep to right field for a 342-foot solo homer. Albies has recorded a hit in six of his last seven outings, and over that span he has gone 8-for-31 with five runs, two doubles, one home run and three RBI.

Yorke (shoulder) was reinstated from the 7-day injured list with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Yorke was placed on the injured list April 6 due to right shoulder soreness, but he's progressed enough in his recovery to return after the minimum. In the four games prior to his injury, Yorke went 5-for-15 with two walks, three doubles and one RBI.

Tawa isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.

Tawa will head to the bench for Friday's series opener after going 1-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's win over Baltimore. Garrett Hampson will start at second base and bat ninth.

Baty isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.

The lefty-hitting Baty will grab a seat on the bench to start Friday's contest while the lefty-throwing JP Sears takes the mound for the A's. Luisangel Acuna will fill in at second base and bat seventh.

The Padres placed Cronenworth on the 10-day injured list Friday with a non-displaced right rib fracture.

Cronenworth was taken out of Tuesday's game against the A's due to what was initially believed to be cramping. However, imaging revealed that the 31-year-old infielder actually has a fractured rib, which stems from when he was hit by a pitch in Sunday's contest. It's unclear how long he will be out, though he could return relatively quickly, considering he was able to start another two games after getting plunked. Jose Iglesias will presumably take over as San Diego's primary second baseman while Cronenworth is out, and Tyler Wade will come up from Triple-A to replenish the big club's infield depth.

Stott is starting at second base and batting leadoff in Friday's contest versus the Cardinals.

Stott has mostly hit eighth and no higher than fifth in the batting order this season previously, but he'll get a turn in the leadoff spot as the Phillies open a series in St. Louis. Kyle Schwarber had hit leadoff in every game versus a righty this season, but he's in the cleanup spot Friday versus righty Andre Pallante, who has reverse splits.

McNeil (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie on Friday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

McNeil has been ramping up his rehab from a right oblique strain and has been cleared to test things out in game action. Upon his return, the 33-year-old McNeil will serve as the Mets' primary second baseman.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that he's pretty confident McLain (hamstring) will be ready for activation from the 10-day injured list when first eligible Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

McLain's placement on the IL earlier this week with a left hamstring strain seemed largely precautionary, so it's not terribly surprising that he's trending toward a minimum absence. It appears the infielder will skip a rehab assignment and go directly back into the Reds' lineup once activated.

Tawa went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's 9-0 win over the Orioles.

Tawa capped the Diamondbacks' five-run fifth inning with a two-run single that plated Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy. Tawa started at second base for the third time in five games since Ketel Marte (hamstring) was added to the 10-day injured list. He and Garrett Hampson have alternated starts. With Marte expected to miss a "series of weeks," per manager Torey Lovullo, Tawa is in position to see ample opportunities through the end of the month.