MLB Player News

Rodgers went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Friday's 5-2 win over the Padres.

Rodgers ended a 10-game homer drought when he opened the scoring in the second inning. He also knocked a double for the third time in four games. The second baseman hit just .221 in July, but he's already 5-for-8 over the first two games in August. For the season, he's produced a .271/.316/.402 slash line with eight long balls, 35 RBI, 44 runs scored, one stolen base, 19 doubles and a triple over 93 contests.

McNeil is absent from the starting lineup for Friday's contest against the Angels.

With the Halos sending southpaw Tyler Anderson to the mound Friday, the lefty-hitting McNeil will begin the contest on the bench. Jose Iglesias will start at second base and bat sixth.

Kiner-Falefa (knee) will report to Double-A Altoona on Friday to begin a rehab assignment, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The 29-year-old made two rehab appearances last weekend before being acquired by the Pirates from the Blue Jays, and he'll continue the assignment with his new organization. Kiner-Falefa has been sidelined about a month by a left knee sprain, so he shouldn't require a lengthy stay in the minors and could join Pittsburgh early next week.

Gorman is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Cubs.

Gorman has now been in the lineup just twice across the Cardinals' last nine games. They have faced five lefties over that span, but this will be the second time during the stretch he's sat out versus a righty, as Javier Assad will be taking the ball for the Cubs on Friday. Meanwhile, each of Brendan Donovan's past five and seven of his last eight starts have come at second base.

Acuna was removed from Thursday's lineup for Triple-A Syracuse due to a foot injury, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The Mets haven't shed light on the severity of Acuna's foot injury, so he can be viewed as day-to-day. Acuna hasn't hit particularly well with Syracuse this season, maintaining only a 73 wRC+ and .303 wOBA across 442 plate appearances.

Gorman is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.

Gorman has now been out of the lineup six times over the Cardinals' last eight games. This is the fifth time he's sat against a lefty over that stretch, as Shota Imanaga will take the ball for the Cubs on Thursday. Among St. Louis' left-handed bats, it's clear Gorman is among the lowest on the totem pole right now.

Brujan isn't in the Marlins' lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta.

Brujan will get a breather Thursday after going 2-for-4 with two runs scored during Wednesday's win over the Rays. Kyle Stowers, Nick Gordon and Forrest Wall will start across Miami's outfield while Brujan sits.

Merrifield went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Brewers.

Making his first start as Atlanta's new second baseman and batting ninth, Merrifield made a solid contribution to a 6-2 victory that included his 13th steal of the year. The veteran utility player appears fully recovered from the finger injury he suffered immediately after signing with the team July 22, and until Ozzie Albies (wrist) is ready to return, Merrifield has little competition for playing time at the keystone. His .578 OPS on the season is a career low, but he could turn things around down the stretch as Atlanta tries to catch the Phillies -- the team that cut him loose in mid-July -- in the NL East standings.

Hoerner went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 13-4 win over the Reds. He also stole a base.

It's been a bit of a down year for Hoerner, who's batting .252 with a .670 OPS after hitting .283 with a .729 OPS last season. The infielder has a total of 17 stolen bases this year, though he ran wild in 2023 with 43 steals. It doesn't seem like Hoerner will match last year's production overall, but if he can reach base consistently down the stretch, he could still be a fantasy difference-maker due to his ability on the basepaths.

Gorman isn't in the lineup for Wednesday contest versus the Rangers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The Cardinals are facing a lefty in Andrew Heaney, and the lefty-hitting Gorman is now on the bench for a fourth straight matchup with a southpaw. He's exiting the starting nine five times across the last seven games, even sitting once against a righty during that span. Brendan Donovan will occupy second base Wednesday.