MLB Player News

Arraez (cramps) will start at second base and bat leadoff Saturday against the Padres.

Arraez was removed early from Friday's game as a precaution due to cramping, but the issue appears to have resolved itself ahead of Saturday's tilt. The 29-year-old has been seeing the ball extremely well as of late, going 14-for-34 (.412) with six RBI and four runs in his last eight games.

Arraez was removed from Friday's game against the Padres due to cramps, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Manager Tony Vitello said after the game that Arraez began to cramp up while playing in the San Diego heat, so he was pulled from the game as a precaution. If the 29-year-old infielder needs another day off to recover, Christian Koss, Jesus Rodriguez and Osleivis Basabe would be in the running to fill in at second base.

Edman isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against Boston.

Edman will get a chance to rest Friday after starting each of the Dodgers' last nine games and posting a .658 OPS while doing so. Miguel Rojas will pick up a start at second base and bat third while Edman sits.

Semien is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Marlins.

Semien has now started only one of the last four games versus right-handed pitching. It's unlikely Semien will fall into a strict short-side platoon role, but he could continue to cede reps at second base to Brett Baty in a lost season for the Mets.

McLain started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Pirates.

McLain, who was activated from the 10-day injured list earlier in the day, singled in his first at-bat and scored on an Elly De La Cruz double. The Reds cleared a roster spot for McLain's return by optioning Edwin Arroyo to Triple-A Louisville. That, coupled with Spencer Steer's wrist injury, should create a path to regular plate appearances for McLain as the primary second baseman.

Lowe went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Reds.

Lowe popped his home run in the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2. It was his 23rd long ball of the season, and he continues to hit well since the All-Star break. Across his last 11 games, Lowe has gone 13-for-43 (.302 average) with two homers, six RBI and seven runs scored.

Wetherholt went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a steal during the Cardinals' 4-2 extra-inning loss to the Cubs on Thursday.

Wetherholt tied things up at 2-2 with a solo homer off Caleb Thielbar in the seventh inning. It was the 16th home run of the season for Wetherholt, but he has struggled coming out of the All-Star break with a .214/.302/.375 slash line, three steals, three homers and five RBI over 63 plate appearances.

Hoerner went 3-for-5 with a stolen base in Thursday's 4-2, 10-inning win over the Cardinals.

Hoerner didn't score or record any RBI with his three hits, but he did at least record his 16th stolen base of the season in 19 attempts. The speedy infielder has been locked in this month with a .311 batting average across 23 games in July. Overall, Hoerner is slashing .257/.320/.350, and he seems to be rounding into form after enduring a few rough patches earlier in the year.

The Reds optioned Arroyo to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.

Arroyo has served as the Reds' primary second baseman since early June but has produced just a .244/.286/.282 batting line with zero home runs and a 5:31 BB:K across 142 plate appearances. If he can get back on track at Louisville, Arroyo could receive another opportunity later this season. For now, though, the Reds appear poised to hand their second-base job back to Matt McLain, who returned from the injured list Thursday.

The Reds activated McLain (calf) from the 10-day injured list Thursday.

McLain has been sidelined since early July with a left calf strain, but he's been cleared to return to action after going 5-for-17 with a 2:5 BB:K in five rehab games with Triple-A Louisville. The Reds also optioned Edwin Arroyo on Thursday, which could allow McLain to become the club's regular option at second base again. McLain has slashed just .190/.293/.328 with eight homers and 11 stolen bases this season.