MLB Player News

Duffy (back) said Saturday that he is hoping to return sometime around next month's All-Star break, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Duffy was previously thought to be targeting an earlier July return, but he said that he doesn't want to try too hard to "force" his way back from the injury. The utility man was enjoying a solid campaign at the plate prior to the back issue landing him on the IL on May 25, slashing .278/.377/.356 across 106 plate appearances.

Newman isn't starting Saturday's game against St. Louis.

Newman is in the midst of a four-game hitting streak, and he's gone 6-for-16 with two doubles, two runs, a walk and a strikeout during that time. Erik Gonzalez will start at shortstop and bat seventh.

Hayes isn't starting Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

Hayes recorded multi-hit performances in each of the last three games and went 6-for-12 with four runs, three RBI, a stolen base, three walks and two strikeouts during that time. With him getting a breather, Phillip Evans will man the hot corner and bat fifth.

Muncy went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer in Friday's 6-2 win over the Cubs.

Muncy was hitless until providing the Dodgers some late insurance runs with a two-run homer in the eighth. It was his first long ball in four games since returning from the injured list and his 15th on the year. The 30-year-old is now slashing .261/.414/.531 with 35 RBI, 43 runs scored, a stolen base and a 49:51 BB:K. Muncy's 49 walks are fourth best in the league while his .414 on-base percentage is good for second-best behind Vladimir Guerrero.

Suarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 loss to Atlanta.

His seventh-inning blast off Luke Jackson brought the Reds to within a run, but they couldn't find an equalizer. Suarez has been a run-producing machine over the last couple of weeks, racking up 14 RBI in his last 12 games, but on the season he's still only slashing .176/.256/.382 with 16 homers and 44 RBI through 72 contests.

Machado went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 11-5 win over the Diamondbacks.

Machado singled in the first and later came around to score and then delivered an RBI single in the eighth to extend the Padres' lead to 11-5. The 28-year-old has recorded at least two hits in three of his last four games and is slashing .261/.339/.463 with 12 homers, 49 RBI, 39 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a 33:52 BB:K on the year.

Arenado went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, a double and three walks in Friday's loss to Pittsburgh.

The star third baseman walked in his first plate appearance, then hit a solo homer in the third inning and doubled in the fourth. The Pirates worked around him the rest of the way, putting him on via walk in the sixth and eighth frames. Arenado hadn't drawn more than one walk in a game this season prior to Friday, and his 6.4 percent walk rate entering the game was on pace for his lowest mark since 2015. However, the veteran has hit for plenty of power in his first season as a Cardinal, and he is now tied for the team lead with 15 long balls.

Longoria (shoulder) is resuming baseball activities Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Longoria has been on the injured list with a sprained left shoulder since June 6. He's been targeting a mid-July return and Friday's update indicates that he remains on track to be activated sometime around the All-Star break. Wilmer Flores should receive the bulk of the playing time at the hot corner while Longoria continues to recover.

Escobar (quadriceps) is starting Friday's game against the Padres.

Escobar had been out of the lineup for each of the last three contests, but he served as a pinch hitter in the last two games and homered Wednesday. He'll start at the hot corner and bat third in Friday's series opener.

Davis (hand) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday.

This was mainly a procedural move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster as the 28-year-old has been on the shelf since the start of May, so he'll be eligible to be activated July 1. Davis resumed swinging a bat last week and remains without a clear timeline for his return.