MLB Player News

Blackmon went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored Friday against Cincinnati.

Blackmon doubled home a run in the fourth inning, and he tacked on an insurance run in the ninth with a single to center. The 33-year-old is riding a modest seven-game hitting streak, registering three RBI over that span.

Dickerson isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Padres, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

Dickerson will head to the bench with a southpaw slated to pitch for San Diego. Tyler Austin is set to man left field and bat seventh with Dickerson out of the mix.

Reyes will head to the bench for Friday's game against the Giants.

Reyes is in line for a night off after collecting three hits over the last two contests. Hunter Renfroe will shift to right field, opening the door for Wil Myers to start in left with Reyes out of the mix.

Ozuna (fingers) took live batting practice on the field Friday, Mark Saxon of The Athletic reports.

Ozuna continues to make progress in his recovery, and he's optimistic about his chances of embarking on a rehab assignment within the next week. Considering he's been on the shelf since June 29 due to multiple fractures on the middle and ring fingers of his right hand, he'll likely need at least a handful of games in the minors to get his timing back at the dish.

Jimenez (elbow) is scheduled to take two rounds of live batting practice Friday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Jimenez is ready to face live pitching after resuming baseball activities earlier in the week. The White Sox will wait and see how the young outfielder feels following Friday's live BP sessions before determining the next step in his rehab. The hope is that Jimenez will be able to return from the injured list without completing a rehab assignment.

Alvarez is not in the lineup Friday against the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

There's a chance Alvarez will play the outfield this weekend with no DH spot available during Houston's three-game series in St. Louis, but he'll head to the bench for Friday's series opener as the Astros go with an outfield consisting of Michael Brantley, George Springer and Josh Reddick. Through his first 32 big-league games, Alvarez is slashing .320/.397/.664 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI.

Reed went 0-for-2 with a walk and an RBI in Thursday's loss to the Twins.

Reed continues to draw into the lineup when the White Sox face a right-hander, although he's been dropped in the batting order to seventh. He's started four straight games, going 1-for-13 with one RBI during that stretch. With Chicago likely headed for another playoff-less season, the organization has the bandwidth to give Reed a significant number of at-bats to see if he can recapture the minor-league production he showed while with the Astros. Overall, he's batting .194 (6-for-31) since joining the White Sox.

Vogelbach went 1-for-3 with an RBI fielder's choice, a two-run double, two walks and a run in a win over the Tigers on Thursday.

Vogelbach has enjoyed a momentous last two games, racking up a double, two home runs and five RBI during that span. Some potent and timely hitting has allowed Vogelbach to generate a respectable 14 RBI in July despite hitting just .185 during the month.

Ozuna (fingers) has made a substantial amount of progress in recent days, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

The veteran outfielder is finally starting to see the swelling in his hand subside, which is also allowing his grip strength to return to close to normal. Manager Mike Shildt emphasized that Ozuna particularly made strides over the last couple of days, and that the slugger will be reevaluated by the team's medical staff Friday at Busch Stadium as the Cardinals begin a six-game homestand. While Ozuna's progress is encouraging, there's still no timetable yet for him to rejoin the lineup.

Manager Rick Renteria said he hopes Jimenez (elbow) won't need a rehab assignment before returning from the injured list, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Jimenez has been on the shelf for a little more than a week with a right ulnar nerve contusion. He's pain-free and recently resumed baseball activities, hitting some flips and throwing from 90 feet Wednesday. Depending on how Jimenez responds to increased activity over the next week will likely determine whether he'll be cleared to return without embarking on a rehab assignment.