MLB Player News

Arenado went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and four total RBI in Monday 18-1 thrashing of the Brewers.

Arenado set the tone early for St. Louis, mashing a three-run homer off Freddy Peralta in the first inning. The long ball extended his streak of games with a home run to four, and he's batting a red-hot .529 (9-for-17) over that stretch with four homers, 11 RBI and five runs. Arenado was batting just .239 through the end of April, but he's raised his average 25 points to .264 with an excellent first half of May.

X-rays on Machado's left hand came back negative after he exited Monday's 4-0 win over the Royals in the fourth inning, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Machado was sent for further testing after being struck by a pitch on the hand during his at-bat in the second inning. Though Machado took his base and was able to play the field for two innings, he was replaced by Rougned Odor when his next turn in the batting order came up in the fourth. Fortunately for Machado, he appears to have avoided any broken bones, but he may still be experiencing enough soreness or swelling that he'll have to sit out a game or two. The Padres will likely have an update on his status prior to Tuesday's contest.

Machado was removed from Monday's game against the Royals after being struck by a pitch on his hand, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Machado talked his way into staying in the game immediately after being drilled, but he was removed a few innings later and likely sent for further testing. The Padres should have more to share about the injury after he undergoes X-rays.

Madrigal will start at second base and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Astros.

Since Nico Hoerner landed on the injured list Friday with the left hamstring strain that had kept him out of the lineup since last Tuesday, Madrigal has settled in as the primary option at the keystone. He'll stick in the lineup for the fifth time in six games despite going 4-for-19 at the plate since Hoerner hit the shelf.

De La Cruz is hitting .347 with a .467 OBP and five home runs in 12 games this month at Triple-A Louisville.

The most impressive aspect of De La Cruz's recent run of success is his improved contact rate and swing decisions. He has 10 walks and 10 strikeouts in his last 49 at-bats and is 2-for-6 on stolen-base attempts over that span. Matt McLain earned a promotion Monday to play shortstop for the Reds, but if De La Cruz's newfound plate skills hold, he should get a promotion of his own this summer.

Moustakas will start at first base and bat cleanup in Monday's game against the Reds.

With C.J. Cron (back) headed to the 10-day injured list, Moustakas could see a good number of starts at first base versus right-handed pitching in the coming weeks. The 34-year-old has managed a .688 OPS with one home run in his first 24 games this season.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Monday that Kieboom hasn't played in any of Triple-A Rochester's last four games due to right lat soreness, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Martinez revealed that Kieboom was sent in for an MRI, but the organization has yet to receive the results of his medical tests. Rochester has yet to place Kieboom on the 7-day injured list, so he's presumably being viewed as day-to-day.

Baty is out of the lineup for Monday's game versus the Nationals.

Baty has now been on the bench three of the last four times the Mets have faced a left-hander, with his absence from the lineup Monday coming with southpaw Patrick Corbin taking the hill for Washington. Eduardo Escobar will play the hot corner Monday in Baty's stead.

Arenado went 2-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's win over Boston.

Arenado brought in two runs with a sixth-inning single before belting a two-run shot to add some insurance runs in the eighth. He went 7-for-14 with three home runs in the three-game sweep over the Red Sox. The veteran slugger raised his season OPS from .620 to .708 during that stretch.

Arenado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Red Sox.

Arenado has homered in consecutive games for the first time this season, and he's now 7-for-17 (.412) over his last four contests. The third baseman's power may be coming around after a fairly quiet start to the year. He's slashing .252/.299/.387 with five homers, 22 RBI, 19 runs scored, a stolen base, four doubles and a triple through 38 games.