MLB Player News

Wisdom (finger) will take batting practice on the field ahead of Thursday's game against the Reds, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Wisdom took swings in the batting cage Wednesday and will face live pitching a day later. The 31-year-old is eligible to return from the injured list as soon as he's deemed fully healthy, but it's not yet clear whether he'll require a brief rehab assignment prior to returning to game action in the majors.

Madrigal isn't starting Thursday against the Reds.

Madrigal started the last two games and went 2-for-9 with a double, two RBI, a steal, a walk and a strikeout. Zach McKinstry will take his place at second base and lead off.

Senzel (ankle) is starting at designated hitter and batting seventh Thursday against the Cubs.

He sprained his ankle in Tuesday's game and was held out Wednesday, but Senzel is apparently able to hit and run the bases well enough to slot in as the DH for the series finale in Chicago. Senzel is hitting .219 with zero home runs and two steals over his last 10 games.

Escobar went 6-for-9 with two runs scored and two RBI across both games of Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of the Pirates.

All six hits were singles -- two in the matinee and four in the nightcap -- but Escobar was able to turn them into some production while batting eighth in the lineup in both contests. The 33-year-old has had a tough season, but he's at least finishing it with a flourish. Since moving back into the starting lineup nine games ago, he's batting .448 (13-for-29) with three homers and six RBI.

Vargas is not in Thursday's lineup against the Cardinals.

The 31-year-old infielder had started 26 games in a row, hitting .272/.309/.424 with three home runs and two steals in 92 at-bats over that stretch. Vargas rarely strikes out (10.8 K%) and provides strong defense at third base, shortstop and second base.

Sosa went 3-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double and three total RBI In Wednesday's 4-3 win over Miami.

Sosa put Philadelphia on the board with a two-run homer to left field in the third inning, and he plated the decisive run with a double in the seventh. He finished with his second three-hit performance of the campaign, with his previous such effort coming a week ago against Arizona. Sosa has gone 5-for-5 with his first two homers of the season, two doubles, and four RBI over his past two contests.

Muncy went 3-for-5 with one homer, three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over San Francisco.

Muncy increased the Dodgers' lead to four with a three-run homer off righty reliever Zack Littell in the eighth. After a stretch of 13 games without a home run, the 32-year-old has now hit three in his last two games. The second baseman had gone four straight games without a hit but bounced back with what is now a modest five-game hit streak that includes back-to-back three-hit games.

Wisdom (finger) took swings in the batting cage Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Wisdom is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list, but he may need at least a few more days of workouts and potentially a minor-league rehab assignment before the Cubs are comfortable bringing him back. While Wisdom is on the shelf, the Cubs are likely to lean on a platoon of Alfonso Rivas and P.J. Higgins at first base.

Senzel (ankle) isn't starting Wednesday against the Cubs.

Senzel was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to a right ankle sprain, and he'll remain on the bench for a second consecutive game. Whether he's available off the bench remains to be seen, but TJ Friedl will start in center field and lead off.

Anderson isn't in the lineup Wednesday against Philadelphia, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Anderson is getting a rare day off after he went 2-for-18 with two RBI, a walk and seven strikeouts over the last five games. Bryan De La Cruz will take over in left field and bat seventh.