MLB Player News

Reds vice president of player development Shawn Pender announced that Encarnacion-Strand (back) has resumed baseball activities, Mark Shelton of MLB.com reports.

Both Encarnacion-Strand and Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) have been cleared to resume activities. Encarnacion-Strand is working his way back from a slight herniation in his back, and the hope is that he will be ready by April 24. Encarnacion-Strand really impressed during his short stint in the Cactus League, and he has a chance to make his MLB debut with the Reds at some point this summer.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that he's hopeful that Brantley (shoulder) will be ready to return from the 10-day injured list around the first week of May, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

When spring training ended in late March, Brantley stayed behind at the Astros' camp in Florida to continue his rehab from the right shoulder labrum repair surgery he underwent last August. Brantley hasn't hit any reported snags while he continues to ramp up in Florida, but he still has yet to play in any simulated games. Once he's deemed ready for game action, Brantley will likely require multiple games at camp or at a minor-league affiliate before he's formally reinstated from the IL. The Astros have been rotating a number of players at the designated-hitter spot for the first week and a half of the season while Brantley has been on the shelf.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Pederson will join fellow lefty-hitting everyday players Mike Yastrzemski, Blake Sabol and LaMonte Wade on the bench for the series finale while southpaw Kris Bubic takes the hill for Kansas City. J.D. Davis will replace Pederson as the Giants' designated hitter.

Meneses is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

Meseses will get his first day off of the young season while Stone Garrett steps in to spell him as the Nationals' designated hitter. While starting each of the first nine games, Meneses has yet to hit a home run and has scored just four times to go with one RBI.

Belt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

The lefty-hitting Belt will take a seat for the second time in the series while the Angels bring another southpaw (Reid Detmers) to the hill. George Springer will serve as the Blue Jays' designated hitter in the series finale, opening up a spot in the outfield for Whit Merrifield.

Cabrera is starting at designated hitter and batting seventh in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Cabrera got the day off Saturday but will return Sunday. The veteran is off to a slow start, with just three hits in 17 at-bats so far. He should continue to receive regular days off moving forward, and his days as a fixture in the middle of the order are long gone.

McCutchen is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's tilt against the White Sox.

McCutchen's reward for going 3-for-4 with a double, homer, stolen base and two runs scored against the White Sox on Saturday is a day of rest. Canaan Smith-Njigba gets the start in right and will hit sixth against Michael Kopech and the Chicago pitching staff.

Soler is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.

Soler will get a day of rest Sunday with Garrett Cooper getting the start at designated hitter and Yuli Gurriel at first base. The 31-year-old has hit just .206 over his 34 plate appearances but has added three homers over just nine appearances to begin the year.

Stanton went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Orioles.

He crushed an Austin Voth offering to left field in the fifth inning that traveled an estimated 436 feet, capping the scoring on the night. Stanton appears locked in to begin the season, batting .286 (8-for-28) with three homers, five RBI and six runs through seven games, and he's only struck out three times.

McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 11-5 loss to the White Sox.

The 36-year-old turned back the clock in this one, putting together a performance reminiscent of his glory days in Pittsburgh when he delivered three straight 20/20 campaigns in the early 2010s. McCutchen dealt with some elbow soreness in spring training but appears healthy now, reeling off three straight multi-hit games and batting .375 (9-for-24) to begin the season with one homer, two steals, three runs, three RBI and a massive .515 OBP thanks to a 7:4 BB:K.