MLB Player News

Alu isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against the Marlins, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Southpaw Braxton Garrett will begin Friday's contest on the mound for Miami, meaning the left-handed bat of Alu will stay put in the dugout. Ildemaro Vargas will start in left field while Alu sits, and Michael Chavis will get the nod at second base.

The Cardinals reinstated Gorman (back) from the injured list Friday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Gorman landed on the injured list last week with a lower-back strain and will now return after a minimum stay. The 23-year-old was slashing .235/.350/.412 through 40 plate appearances in August prior to getting injured, but he will remain in the dugout for Friday's game with left-hander Cristopher Sanchez on the mound for the Phillies. Gorman's return will force Jose Fermin back to Triple-A Memphis in order to clear a roster spot.

Fermin was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Fermin has managed just four hits in 25 at-bats for the Cardinals this season and had started just one of the last five games. With Nolan Gorman back from the injured list, Fermin's playing time was about to be cut even more. Instead, he'll head back to Memphis to play regularly.

Hernandez went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the Guardians.

Hernandez doubled in his first at-bat before coming around to score on a Mookie Betts single, giving the Dodgers their first run of the game. The utility player then chipped in an RBI double and a solo homer in his final two plate appearances, giving him his first long ball since Aug. 7. It was just his third three-hit performance this season, but two of them have come since he was re-acquired by Los Angeles. He's now batting .292 in August with two homers, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored and has driven in two runs in back-to-back games.

Bae went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base Thursday against the Cubs.

Bae has been a near everyday player since he was activated from the injured list Aug. 18. He now has five hits across 21 at-bats since his return, with Thursday's performance also marking his first stolen base in that span. Bae's usage of late suggests he'll have a chance to lead off against righties, and he also remains in the lineup against southpaws while playing either second base or center field.

Peguero is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.

Vinny Capra will start at second base and bat sixth. This is presumably just a routine breather for Peguero, who went 2-for-4 with two singles, a stolen base and a run scored in the Pirates' series finale versus the Cardinals on Wednesday.

Albies (hamstring) isn't certain to be activated from the 10-day injured list this weekend, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Albies is first eligible to return Friday and is said to be trending well in his recovery from the left hamstring strain that put him on the shelf Aug. 15, but O'Brien hears that the second baseman's status remains a "day-to-day" situation leading into Atlanta's three-game weekend series in San Francisco. Nicky Lopez and Vaughn Grissom continue to share starts at the keystone for the runaway NL East leaders.

India (foot) traveled to the Reds' training complex in Goodyear (Ariz.) where he was slated to begin running on an anti-gravity treadmill Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

The treadmill enables India to resume running without putting pressure on his injured foot. The infielder is also scheduled for another MRI to determine the status of the plantar fasciitis in his left foot. India received positive news from a specialist Tuesday and could return early September, if he suffers no setbacks.

Peguero went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Peguero has experienced some of the ups and downs expected of rookies, as he entered Wednesday's game with only two hits across his prior 17 at-bats. He broke out of that slump with the seventh multi-hit performance in 28 big-league games so far this season. Peguero has seen the majority of his playing time at second base, and that role should be more secure moving forward with Oneil Cruz's (ankle) return in doubt.

Estrada went 2-for-5 with one RBI, a stolen base and one run scored in Wednesday's 8-6 extra-inning win over the Phillies.

The steal was Estrada's 19th of the season, and it was his first attempt to swipe a bag since returning from a hand injury earlier in the month. The second baseman has gone 21-for-67 (.313) over his last 16 games. He's up to a .280/.329/.434 slash line with 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 51 runs scored, 23 doubles and a triple over 86 games this season.