MLB Player News

Machado went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk during Wednesday's 7-6 loss against the Giants.

Machado took Johnny Cueto deep in the bottom of the third inning for his second long ball of the season. This was Machado's first multi-hit game of the campaign and he is hitting just .227 in his first 26 plate appearances, but he has reached base safely in all but one of his contests thus far.

Senzel went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run Wednesday against the Cubs.

Senzel took Rex Brothers yard in the fifth inning, capping a seven-run inning for the Reds. It was Senzel's first home run of the season, and welcomed production after he was out of the lineup for the team's past three games due to illness. He has gotten off to a relatively slow start with the bat otherwise, but has struck out only once in 12 plate appearances.

Moustakas went 1-for-2 with two walks, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored Wednesday against the Cubs.

Moustakas was cleared to return after being absent from the Reds' lineup for the past three games due to an illness. He quickly produced at the plate, taking Kyle Hendricks deep in his second at-bat of the game for a two-run home run. It was Moustakas' second homer of the year, and he has now reached base in seven of his 12 plate appearances.

Davis is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Red Sox, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Davis will sit for the first time all season as Dominic Smith gets the nod in left field Wednesday. Through five games this season, the 27-year-old Davis is 4-for-16 with a home run and two RBI.

Senzel will bat seventh and play center field Wednesday against the Cubs.

Senzel missed the last three games with what was ultimately determined to be a non-COVID illness. He's still looking for his first hit of the year after going 0-for-7 in his first two games.

Moustakas is starting at second base and batting cleanup Wednesday against the Cubs.

This was anticipated after it was revealed both Moustakas and Nick Senzel had been cleared to return, but now we have official confirmation they are both in the lineup.

Moustakas (illness) is expected to return Wednesday against Cubs, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Moustakas and teammate Nick Senzel had been out of action for the past few days due to an illness, though neither tested positive for COVID-19. They apparently made a successful appeal to a panel of league and union representatives that cleared the path for their return, so they should both be back in the lineup Wednesday.

Senzel (illness) announced on his personal Twitter page Wednesday that he'd been cleared to return to the field.

Seznel and teammate Mike Moustakas had been out of action for the past few days due to an illness, but neither player ever tested positive for COVID-19. They had to appeal a panel of league and union representatives to be allowed back on the field, but they've evidently been successful, so both could return to the lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Newman is not starting Wednesday against the Brewers.

Newman sits for the second time in the season's first six games, meaning he seemingly has less than a true everyday role in Pittsburgh at the moment. He's done very little at the plate thus far this season, grabbing just a single hit in 16 at-bats. Erik Gonzalez will make his second start of the year as the shortstop in his absence.

Senzel and teammate Mike Moustakas plan to appeal to a select panel of league and union representatives Wednesday regarding their MLB-mandated absences as a result of their self-reported COVID-19 symptoms, C. Trent Rosecrans and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.

Though both players have been held out of action since reporting their symptoms, neither has received a positive result on multiple COVID-19 tests, leading both to believe they should be eligible to play for the Reds. Senzel's and Moustakas' teammate, Nick Castellanos, relayed after Tuesday's game against the Cubs that both are unable to play until Thursday due to the current protocols in place, but a favorable ruling by the league and union committee Wednesday could expedite their returns.