MLB Player News

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado went 3 for 5 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Braves. The double was his 20th of the season, and the All-Star third baseman is 8 for 28 in seven games so far this month.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado went a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate during Wednesday's 3-2 loss against the Angels. He had his 19th double, one run and two intentional walks in the loss.

Arenado had his first multihit game in six July starts. He had a total of two hits in his first five July games.

The All-Star third baseman is batting .303 with a .688 slugging percentage, 1.021 OPS, one triple, seven doubles, 11 home runs, 25 RBI, 21 runs, five walks and 13 strikeouts in his last 28 games.

Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez hit his third home run of the year in Monday's win over Washington. 

"He got it enough," Nationals manager Matt Williams said, per MLB.com. "When it's humid and warm like this, the ball carries pretty well, and he hit it in the perfect spot. Just got it over, inside the pole."

After hitting one home run in his first 16 games of the year, Suarez now has two in his last five games. He went 3 for 4 with two RBI, getting as many hits as he had in his previous 12 at bats, spanning four games. 

"[Suarez has] been a run producer, not just getting hits but timely hits, driving in runs," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He's shown a little bit of power. That was a big one there off of [Casey] Janssen to give us a lead. There's nothing like being able to take a lead in the late innings knowing that Mattheus, Parra, Hoover and Chapman in that mix ends up finishing a lot of our wins."

The National League All Star reserves and pitchers were announced on Monday evening, and there was no room for the reigning National League MVP.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was not selected for the All Star team, although he's one of five candidates to take the final spot on the roster in the Final Vote. 

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant made the team as an injury replacement for the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton. Bryant is one of two rookies on the team, along with Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson. 

The Pirates sent two starting pitchers to the All Star team for the first time since 1960. MLB wins leader Gerrit Cole and fellow Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett will both be making their first appearance. 

National League reserves are:

Catchers: Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers; Yadier Molina, Cardinals
First basemen: Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers; Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Second basemen: DJ LeMahieu, Rockies; Joe Panik, Giants
Third basemen: Nolan Arenado, Rockies; Kris Bryant, Cubs
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, Giants
Outfielders: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; Joc Pederson, Dodgers; A.J. Pollock, Diamondbacks; Justin Upton, Padres

National League pitchers are:

Madison Bumgarner, Giants; A.J. Burnett, Pirates; Aroldis Chapman, Reds; RHP: Gerrit Cole, Pirates; Jacob deGrom, Mets; Zack Greinke, Dodgers; Mark Melancon, Pirates; Shelby Miller, Braves; Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies; Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers; Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals; Max Scherzer, Nationals; Michael Wacha, Cardinals

The five candidates for the Final Vote are:

Johnny Cueto, Reds; Jeurys Familia, Mets; Carlos Martinez, Cardinals; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson was held out of the starting lineup Monday against the Brewers. It was the first time he was held out of the starting lineup since June 6.

Peterson could probably use a bit of a breather, as he is mired in a 7-for-54 slump in his last 14 games. He has one home run, two doubles, five RBI, four runs, six walks and 18 strikeouts in that span.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run home run as part of a five-run Pittsburgh rally in Sunday's win over Cleveland. 

Alvarez hit his twelfth home run of the year and second in four games. He went 1 for 3 and reached 37 RBI. 

Giants third baseman Matt Duffy was held out of Sunday's lineup at Washington, the team announced.

Duffy was replaced at third by Ehrie Adrianza, who will hit eighth. Duffy is hitting .283 with two home runs and four RBI in his last 11 games.

The Giants are the underdogs (+155) at Washington on Sunday.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is not in Sunday's starting lineup for just the fourth time this season. 

Arenado had started the last 43 games at the hot corner, dating back to May 21. 

In his place, Daniel Descalso gets his second start of the season at third. 

So much for the slump plaguing Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu. He ended that in style Saturday night with three hits in a loss to Arizona.

LeMahieu ripped three singles, including one that tallied a run in the third inning. He also scored a run and raised his average back to .300 in breaking a 3-for-30 slide.

Matt Williams has admitted that neither Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (foot) nor third baseman Anthony Rendon (quad) are running yet as they try to progress in their respective rehabs from injuries, per the Washington Times.

Zimmerman has been out for four weeks. Rendon is only nine days removed from his placement on the disabled list.

Williams added that both are making progress, but it appears neither is close to returning.