MLB Player News

Moustakas went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, a double, a walk and two runs scored in Monday's 5-3 win over Pittsburgh.

Moustakas' solo homer in the fifth inning was his first long ball of the season and tied the game up at 2-2. Through four games, he's drawn five walks and knocked three extra-base hits.

Newman is not starting Monday against the Reds.

Newman was named the team's primary shortstop following an excellent spring, but that doesn't mean he'll play every day. He'll get the day off after going 0-for-5 Sunday against the Cubs, with Erik Gonzalez starting in his absence.

Moustakas went 2-for-9 with a double, four walks, two RBI and two runs in the Reds' season-opening three-game series versus the Cardinals.

After posting a career-worst 22.1 percent strikeout rate in 2020, Moustakas' performance at the plate in the first series of 2021 has to be viewed as encouraging. He demonstrated a disciplined eye during his 14 plate appearances against St. Louis, drawing four walks while not striking out a single time. Moustakas bat fifth in all three games of the series, and he'll remain in that lineup spot for Monday's contest against the Pirates.

The Pirates placed Hayes (wrist) on the 10-day injured list prior to Sunday's game against the Cubs, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Hayes was initially labeled as day-to-day after injuring his left wrist during an at-bat in Saturday's loss, but because the inflammation he experienced was making it difficult for him to squeeze his glove, the Pirates elected to shut him down temporarily. The Pirates recalled Wilmer Difo from the taxi squad to add depth at third base in the short term, but Phillip Evans will likely serve as the primary starter at the position while Hayes is on the mend. Pittsburgh seems hopeful that Hayes will be in store for a minimum-length stay on the IL.

Hayes is considered day-to-day after an MRI showed inflammation in his left wrist, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

X-rays were negative after Hayes left Saturday's game, but with the MRI showing some inflammation, the Pirates will sit him down for the finale in Chicago. Pittsburgh travels to Cincinnati next, and it's uncertain whether Hayes will be ready for the start of that series, which gets underway Monday.

Escobar is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.

Escobar battled a non-COVID illness late in the spring and has gotten off to an 0-for-11 start to the regular season, with five strikeouts. He will head to the bench Sunday as Asdrubal Cabrera starts at third base and bats fifth against right-hander Chris Paddack.

Hayes (wrist) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

The news on Hayes is mostly positive; X-rays on his left wrist were negative after he departed Saturday's game, and the Pirates did not announce any roster moves when they released their lineup for Sunday. Phillip Evans will fill in for Hayes at the hot corner in the series finale.

Senzel (shoulder) will start in center field and bat sixth Sunday against St. Louis.

Senzel was out of the starting lineup for Saturday's 9-6 win over the Cardinals after hurting his left shoulder on a diving catch two days earlier, but manager David Bell felt comfortable enough with the 25-year-old's health to have him sub in for Tyler Naquin in the fifth inning of the game. With Senzel playing the final five innings without issue, he'll now be cleared to take back his normal spot in the starting nine.

Machado went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two total runs scored and two total RBI in a win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday.

Machado entered the contest having gone hitless through his first seven at-bats of the campaign, but he struck quickly Saturday with a solo home run in the first inning and later drove in another run with a single in the fourth. The veteran third baseman is coming off a third-place finish in NL MVP voting last season and should have plenty of opportunities for production in 2021 in the heart of a loaded Padres lineup.

Arenado went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's loss to the Reds.

Make it back-to-back multi-hit games for Arenado to kick off his Cardinals career. He got a late-game at-bat against Sal Romano on Saturday and capitalized with his first long ball (and first extra-base hit) with St. Louis. Arenado has been batting third between Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong.