MLB Player News

Alvarez isn't in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against Los Angeles, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez will head to the bench with the playoffs right around the corner. Alex Bregman is set to serve as the designated hitter and will bat third.

Vogelbach is not in the lineup Thursday against the Athletics, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Vogelbach is slashing .160/.333/.300 with two home runs and six RBI in 19 games this month. He'll give way to Domingo Santana at DH on Thursday with lefty Sean Manaea starting for Oakland.

Jimenez (illness) is not in the lineup Thursday against the Indians.

Jimenez will take a break for a second straight game as he continues to deal with an ear infection and sore throat. Ryan Cordell is starting in left field and hitting ninth in place of Jimenez on Thursday. According to Scot Gregor of the Chicago Daily Herald, Jimenez will be available in an emergency Thursday, though he's more likely to return Friday against the Tigers.

Dickerson is not in the lineup Thursday against the Rockies.

Joey Rickard is starting in left field in place of Dickerson with left-hander Kyle Freeland starting for the Rockies. Since returning from an oblique injury earlier in the month, Dickerson has appeared in six games and gone 2-for-12 (.167).

Turner is not in Thursday's lineup due to back tightness, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Turner's back apparently tightened up during batting practice Wednesday, which helps explain his absence from the lineup over the past two games. According to Gurnick, manager Dave Roberts said Turner likely would have played if it were the playoffs, so it sounds like the Dodgers are playing it safe with four games left in the season. Jedd Gyorko is starting at third base in Thursday's series finale in place of Turner, who should be considered day-to-day.

Belt is not in the lineup Thursday against the Rockies.

Belt will head to the bench for Thursday's series finale with left-hander Kyle Freeland starting for the Rockies. In his place, Austin Slater is starting at first base and hitting second.

Pederson is not in the lineup Thursday against the Padres, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Pederson is 4-for-7 with three home runs and four RBI over the past two games, but he'll head to the bench with a lefty in Joey Lucchesi starting for the Padres. Kris Negron is starting in right field and hitting eighth in this one.

Turner is not in the lineup Thursday against the Padres, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Turner will sit for a second straight game, presumably to rest and get right ahead of the playoffs; the third baseman recently returned from an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for nearly two weeks. Jedd Gyorko is starting at third base and hitting seventh in his place.

Blackmon is not in Thursday's lineup against the Giants.

Blackmon will sit for the second time in four games as the Rockies go with a younger outfield consisting of Raimel Tapia, Yonathan Daza and Sam Hilliard for Thursday's series finale. The veteran outfielder has appeared in 20 games this month, slashing .300/.388/.543 with four home runs and a 9:9 BB:K.

Pederson went 3-for-3 with two solo home runs, a walk and three RBI in Wednesday's win over the Padres.

Pederson surpassed his own franchise record with his ninth leadoff homer of the season to kick off the scoring, then went deep again in the fifth inning. For good measure, he drove home his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly to plate an insurance run in the ninth frame. The 27-year-old is enjoying his finest season at the plate, establishing career highs in homers (35), RBI (72), runs scored (81) and hits (110).