MLB Player News

McCutchen went 0-for-1 with three walks and two RBI on Monday against the Athletics.

It was an unusual -- yet productive -- line for McCutchen, as he drew a bases-loaded walk and hit a sacrifice fly to tally his two RBI. He's now reached based multiple times in five consecutive games, during which he's drawn six free passes combined with six hits. His combination of a .373 on-base percentage and .442 slugging percentage across 217 plate appearances this season gives him his highest OPS since the 2019 campaign.

Winker (neck) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Winker underwent neck surgery over the offseason and just over a week ago went on the injured list with a cervical strain. However, he's evidently feeling well enough to test things out in game action. Given his relatively brief period of down time, Winker shouldn't need many rehab contests before being activated.

Ruf, whom the Brewers transferred to the 60-day injured list earlier Monday, has been diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture of his patella in addition to a deep laceration in his right knee, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Ruf was placed on the 10-day IL on Saturday after he was revealed to be dealing with only the deep laceration, but the fractured kneecap explains why the Brewers wasted little time in shifting him to the 60-day IL. Though he's expected to avoid surgery since the fracture is non-displaced, Ruf is still projected to require 6-to-8 weeks of recovery time. He suffered the injury last Friday when he collided with the tarp while chasing after a pop-up.

The Brewers transferred Ruf (knee) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

The right knee laceration Ruf sustained last Friday when he collided with the tarp evidently must have been a serious one. As a result of his move to the 60-day IL, Ruf won't be eligible for activation until early August.

Soler is absent from the lineup Monday against the Royals due to a sore right thumb, Isaac Azout of FishStripes.com reports.

Soler hurt his thumb while taking a swing and missing at strike three during a pinch-hitting appearance Sunday versus the Athletics, per Noah Berger of FishStripes.com. X-rays came back clean and he should be fine, but Soler will be out of the lineup Monday while he deals with soreness. Garrett Cooper is in the designated hitter spot Monday.

Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Yankees.

The game was a scoreless pitching duel through six innings before the Yankees put a run on the board in the top of the seventh. Martinez responded with a solo shot in the bottom of the frame, but it was the only run the Dodgers could manage. The veteran slugger has been ramping up in the power department of late, going deep in five of his past seven games. That's part of an extended surge of 14 contests during which he's swatted nine homers, driven in 20 runs and scored 14 times.

Soler is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Royals, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Soler will get a day off after he went 2-for-11 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and four strikeouts over the three-game series with the Athletics. Garrett Cooper will take over at designated hitter and bat third against Kansas City.

Baker is starting at designated hitter and batting fifth on Monday versus the Rangers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Baker collected two singles in his major-league debut Sunday in Pittsburgh and is back in there Monday against southpaw Martin Perez. Most of Baker's playing time could come versus lefties, although some DH at-bats could be had against righties, too, with Nolan Gorman playing more second base of late.

Manager Brian Snitker confirmed after Sunday's 8-5 victory over the Diamondbacks that Ozuna was removed in the sixth inning of the contest due to a lack of hustle, John Marshall of the Associated Press reports. "I guarantee he feels worse than I do for having to take him out," Snitker said.

After reaching base on a walk in the top of the second inning, Ozuna returned to the plate in the fourth inning and belted a Zac Gallen pitch to deep center for what appeared to be a potential home run. However, the ball instead hit an overhang on the outfield wall just below the line for a home run, and Ozuna had to settle for a 415-foot single after he didn't run at full speed out of the batter's box. Based on Snitkner's comments, Ozuna seems to have been contrite about the lack of hustle, so the 32-year-old likely won't be in line for a prolonged benching.

Baker went 2-for-4 in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Pirates.

Baker found some success in his major-league debut, as he was one of just three Cardinals to hit safely in the game. The first baseman has thrived with a refined approach at the plate this season, posting a 17.8 percent walk rate and 21.7 percent strikeout rate along with a .313/.434/.641 slash line and 18 home runs in 54 games with Triple-A Memphis. It's unclear how much playing time he'll get between first base and designated hitter -- he was at the latter position Sunday, and that may be his best path into the lineup. He may have to initially settle for a short-side platoon role, as it's unlikely Baker will hit well enough to cut into Paul Goldschmidt's playing time.