MLB Player News

Castro has been scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks due to low-back tightness.

TJ Rumfield will now start at first base with Sterlin Thompson at DH, opening up right field for Tyler Freeman against right-hander Zac Gallen. While the severity of Castro's injury is unknown, it's poor timing for the 29-year-old, as he was showing signs of life with eight hits in his last 21 at-bats.

Julien isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Arizona.

Julien's recent 0-for-25 stretch at the plate will leave him out of the starting nine for a third consecutive game. His absence from the lineup will allow Chad Stevens to start at second base, batting eighth.

Arraez went 2-for-5 with an RBI in Friday's 9-4 loss to the White Sox.

Arraez hit an RBI single in the fifth inning and added another base hit in the seventh. The 29-year-old has tallied at least one hit in six of his last seven games, batting .429 with five runs scored, four RBI and two homers in 32 plate appearances during that span. Overall, he's slashing .321/.359/.421 with 21 runs scored, 18 RBI, four stolen bases and two long balls across 209 plate appearances this season.

McLain isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against St. Louis.

McLain will begin Saturday's festivities on the bench after going just 1-for-14 with five strikeouts during Cincinnati's last series against the Phillies. Spencer Steer will shift to second base in McLain's stead, opening up first base for Nathaniel Lowe.

Julien isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against Arizona.

Julien will miss out on the starting nine for a second consecutive game after going 0-for-25 with nine strikeouts across his last nine games. Willi Castro will draw the start at second base, and Sterlin Thompson will work as Colorado's designated hitter.

Lowe went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk Thursday against the Cardinals.

Lowe gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the first inning with what was originally scored as an inside-the-park home run, but it was later ruled a traditional homer. He has now gone yard 13 times in his first 44 games as a Pirate. Lowe also has at least one hit in five of his last six starts, and he's gone 8-for-26 with three homers, four RBI and four runs scored in that span.

Julien is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

Julien will head to the bench as the Rockies get set to face left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound. Julien is in the middle of an 0-for-25 stretch at the plate over his last nine contests, so a night off will hopefully allow him to hit the reset button. Braxton Fulford will draw the start at designated hitter and bat seventh in the series opener versus Arizona.

Sosa went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 9-4 loss to the Reds.

Sosa's homer Wednesday is his first since the Phillies' April 14 loss to the Cubs. The utility man tends to steps into Philadelphia's lineup in favor of Bryson Stott at second base or Brandon Marsh in left field against left-handed pitching, but he hasn't been all that effective at the dish in that role. Through 79 at-bats (28 games), Sosa is hitting .228 with two big flies, three doubles, 14 RBI and two stolen bases.

Marte went 3-for-3 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 6-3 win over San Francisco.

Marte followed up his walk-off, three-run home run Tuesday by reaching base four times and finishing a triple short of a cycle Wednesday. Over the three-game sweep of the Giants, Marte went 6-for-13 with two homers and seven RBI.

Kim is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.

Mauricio Dubon will draw the start at shortstop while Kim heads to the bench for the second time since being activated from the 10-day injured list May 11. Through his first seven games with Atlanta, Kim has gone 2-for-23 (.087 average) with a 3:5 BB:K, two runs and one RBI.