MLB Player News

Candelario (hamstring) isn't in the Reds' lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

Manager David Bell said Wednesday that Candelario has been dealing with hamstring tendinitis for the past week, and while the team still doesn't plan on placing the 30-year-old on the injured list, the injury will cause him to miss a second consecutive game. Spencer Steer will get the nod at first base as a result, allowing Nick Martini to start in left field and bat fifth.

The Reds activated Marte from the suspended list Thursday.

Marte has completed his 80-game PED suspension and the Reds will return him to their active roster on the first day he's eligible. The 22-year-old struggled mightily while on his rehab assignment, slashing just .151/.151/.170 with no home runs and a 15:0 K:BB over 53 plate appearances. Fantasy managers might be wise to keep Marte out of their lineups for now while he knocks some rust off, but the infielder should be rostered virtually everywhere. He should operate as the Reds' primary third baseman.

Suarez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Twins.

Suarez had started each of the previous eight games but went just 2-for-24 over that stretch to drop his season-long batting line down to .192/.274/.312. The Diamondbacks will give Kevin Newman a start at third base Thursday.

Espinal started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to Pittsburgh.

Espinal started at third base for the seventh time in the last eight games, as Jeimer Candelario's knee and hamstring issues are impacting his usage. Candelario, who sat out Wednesday, has been used at first base or DH in four of his last five games. Espinal is 5-for-25 with a walk, a home run, three RBI and an additional run scored over his last seven games.

The Brewers recalled Dunn from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday and placed him on the 10-day injured list with a back strain.

Dunn was optioned to Nashville last week, but it turns out that he had been dealing with a back injury so he will go on the IL instead. It's not clear how long he might be sidelined, but the infielder could be optioned again once he's healthy.

Arenado went 1-for-8 over both games of Wednesday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.

Arenado played all 18 innings Wednesday at third base in his return from a left forearm injury. He didn't make much of an impact at the plate, but it's encouraging to see the 33-year-old play both halves of the twin bill. He's down to a .254/.310/.364 slash line with six home runs, 32 RBI, 26 runs scored and one stolen base over 73 contests this year. The Cardinals have occasionally used Brandon Crawford and Brendan Donovan at the hot corner, and they could continue to be an option there if Arenado is out of the lineup or limited to designated hitter at any point in the future, as his forearm issue is believed to be a lingering one.

Biggio is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.

The lefty-hitting Biggio has typically only sat against left-handed starting pitchers since joining the Dodgers earlier this month, but he'll hit the bench Wednesday while right-hander Erick Fedde takes the hill for the White Sox. Enrique Hernandez steps in for Biggio at third base.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Ortiz was removed from Wednesday's win over the Rangers due to a neck injury, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The injury apparently surfaced during last week's series against the Angels, and it prompted his removal from Wednesday's contest in the sixth inning after going 0-for-2. Ortiz's ability to play through the issue indicates it isn't a serious concern, so he could be back in action Friday versus the Cubs following Thursday's team off day.

Ortiz was removed from Wednesday's game versus the Rangers in the bottom of the sixth inning with an apparent injury, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. He went hitless in two at-bats before leaving the game.

Ortiz ran into the tarp while chasing after a pop-up in the top of the sixth, and though he initially stayed in the game, he was lifted in favor of a pinch hitter in the bottom of the frame. It's not clear yet what injury Ortiz might be dealing with, but the Brewers should offer more clarity soon.

Reds manager David Bell clarified Wednesday that Candelario is dealing with hamstring tendinitis and is considered day-to-day, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Candelario has been nursing the issue for more than a week, with Bell saying before Wednesday's loss to the Pirates that the injury is "progressively not getting better." However, the team doesn't seem to have any plans at this time to put Candelario on the 10-day injured list. Even if Candelario avoids the IL, he could still be deployed at designated hitter for a few games to ease the stress on his legs.