MLB Player News

McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It looks to be a routine day off for the veteran. Bryan Reynolds is getting a start in the designated hitter spot, with Josh Palacios handling left field.

Encarnacion-Strand went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Marlins.

Encarnacion-Strand propelled the Reds to a lead in the fourth inning with a two-run homer, then extended the lead with run-producing single in the sixth. However, Cincinnati's bullpen coughed up four runs in the final two innings. It was the second home run in three games for Encarnacion-Strand, who is 12-for-37 (.324) over the last 10 contests.

Morel went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Mets.

Morel started the game with a leadoff home run but didn't do much from there, striking out two times in his other three at-bats. Fantasy managers will still take the effort from the 24-year-old, who's been solid this year with 18 home runs in just 72 games after hitting 16 home runs across 113 games as a rookie in 2022. He's got two of those long balls in nine games this month, though he's also batting only .167 in August.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that he hopes Martinez (hamstring) can return Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Martinez received a cortisone injection Wednesday, and his MRI results didn't reveal anything unexpected. The 35-year-old will remain shut down for a few days, but the team is seemingly sticking to its original timeline for Martinez to return during its upcoming series against Colorado.

Martinez (hamstring/groin) remains out of the lineup Wednesday at Arizona.

Martinez flew back to Los Angeles on Tuesday to undergo an MRI and receive a cortisone injection for a lingering hamstring/groin issue. The current hope is that he will be able to return to action at some point during the Dodgers' four-game series against the visiting Rockies, which begins Thursday. James Outman is filling the DH role in Wednesday's series finale versus the Diamondbacks.

Vogelbach is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs.

Abraham Almonte will serve as the Mets' designated hitter and bat sixth versus the Cubs and right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Vogelbach is 0-for-9 with no walks and three strikeouts over his last three games and slashing just .220/.319/.356 across 235 total plate appearances this year.

Blackmon (hand) turned in full workouts on the field Monday and Tuesday and could soon be cleared to begin a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

Blackmon, who has been on the injured list since June 11 with a fractured right hand, was expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Aug. 1, but the Rockies nixed those plans after the 37-year-old acknowledged that he was experiencing some lingering discomfort. The setback was considered a minor one, and Blackmon's ability to perform full baseball activities less than a week later suggests his rehab program is back on track. Expect the Rockies to provide an update on Blackmon's next steps within the next couple of days.

Winker (back) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Wisconsin next week, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Winker has been on the shelf since late July due to back spasms. While it sounds like he should be able to return to the Brewers before long, he might not have much of a role with the big club at this point amidst another injury-shortened, disappointing season.

Martinez flew to Los Angeles late Tuesday and is set to undergo an MRI on his left hamstring/groin issue, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The Dodgers aren't yet planning on placing Martinez on the 10-day injured list, but he can safely be ruled out for Wednesday's series finale in Arizona while he's back in Los Angeles getting checked out. According to Plunkett, Martinez is expected to receive a cortisone injection for the troublesome hamstring, and if the veteran slugger responds well to the shot, he could have a chance at returning to the lineup at some point during this weekend's four-game home series with the Rockies. Max Muncy will likely continue to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter while Martinez is out of the lineup, opening up third base for either Chris Taylor or Enrique Hernandez.

Meneses went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Phillies.

With the Nationals facing a 4-2 deficit in the seventh inning, Meneses took matters into his own hands, launching a two-run blast to left-center field off Jeff Hoffman before clubbing a game-winning solo shot off Craig Kimbrel in the top of the ninth. Meneses has gone yard four times in the last eight games, continuing a surge that started when the calendar flipped to July -- over his last 31 games, the 31-year-old is slashing .273/.326/.545 with nine of his 11 homers on the season.