MLB Player News

Bell went 3-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a walk in Sunday's 8-0 win over the Angels.

Bell logged an RBI single in each of the third and fifth innings as part of a three-hit effort. The veteran is in the midst of a modest five-game hitting streak and is hitting .297/.361/.453 with three homers, eight RBI and eight runs in 17 September contests. Overall, Bell is slashing .258/.320/.421 with 20 homers, 91 RBI, 76 runs and two stolen bases across 149 games.

Herrera went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs Sunday in a 5-3 win over Washington.

It was Herrera's third career multi-homer game and second of the season. The catcher had gone hitless in five straight starts prior to his current three-game hitting streak, picking up six knocks during that latter stretch. Through 692 plate appearances, he's slashing .247/.358/.388 with 18 homers, 68 RBI, eight stolen bases and 95 runs scored.

Conforto went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Reds.

Getting a chance to serve as the DH Sunday, Conforto took Cincinnati reliever Carson Spiers deep in the fifth inning for his 15th home run of the season. That's an impressive total for the veteran outfielder, who has largely served as a reserve for the Cubs this year and has has seen 253 at-bats across 108 games, down from 418 at-bats in 138 games for the Dodgers last regular season. Conforto should be a key bench option for Chicago in the postseason as an experienced hitter who's capable of delivering in big spots.

Springer is not in Sunday's starting nine against Texas.

After going 0-for-8 over the first two games against the Rangers, Springer will sit out Sunday's series finale. Sean Keys will slot in as the designated hitter and bat fifth for Toronto.

Pederson (hand) is absent from Sunday's starting nine against Toronto.

Pederson will sit out a seventh consecutive game due to a small fracture in his left hand. Corey Seager will slot in as the designated hitter, while Ezequiel Duran moves to shortstop and Nicky Lopez mans second base for Texas.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that there's a "good chance" Ohtani (knee/biceps) will be activated from the 15-day injured list during next week's series against the Padres, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani ran the bases on the field prior to Saturday's game and also advanced to taking simulated at-bats against the team's Trajekt machine. The Dodgers are seemingly pleased with Ohtani's progress, enough so that he's penciled in to return during the homestand. If Ohtani is activated Wednesday when first eligible, he could make starts at designated hitter in as many as five games before the end of the regular season. Both Ohtani and Roberts have seemingly ruled out the possibility of the two-way player pitching at any point during the postseason, however.

Eldridge (head) is in concussion protocol and won't play Sunday against the Dodgers, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The rookie first baseman/DH reportedly bumped his head at the team hotel, resulting in a laceration and evidently concussion symptoms. He will need to clear protocol in order to play again this year. Eldridge has been a bright spot in a mostly gloomy season for San Francisco, hitting 17 homers with an .825 OPS across 448 plate appearances.

Ohtani (knee/biceps) progressed to taking simulated at-bats off the Dodgers' Trajekt machine Saturday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Ohtani ran the bases on the field Saturday and is also taking simulated at-bats as he gears up for a potential return during the final week of the regular season. It's uncertain whether he will return Wednesday against San Diego when first eligible, but hitting coach Aaron Bates said that Ohtani has looked noticeably less compromised when swinging at full intensity than he did before landing on the 15-day IL.

Ohtani (knee/biceps) did some baserunning during the Dodgers' on-field batting practice Saturday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

This marks the first time Ohtani has worked out on the field in front of the media since he went on the 15-day injured list last week. His stint was backdated to Sept. 8, meaning the Japanese slugger is eligible to return this coming Wednesday, though it's uncertain if he will be ready by then. Ohtani figures to push to play in at least a few more regular-season games as a final tuneup before the playoffs.

Eldridge (head) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.

Eldridge was scratched from the lineup Friday with a head laceration suffered when he bumped his head at the team hotel, per Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News. While manager Tony Vitello said that he expected Eldridge to play Saturday, the rookie slugger will remain on the bench for at least one more game. Victor Bericoto will serve as the designated hitter while Brett Harris mans first base against left-hander Tarik Skubal.