MLB Player News

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss to the Mets.

Cruz hit an eighth-inning home run that sent Tyler Heineman home. It was Cruz's sixteenth homer of the year, his second in three days, and his fifth this month. Cruz is having his best stretch since he was called up to the big league club June 20. The rookie shortstop is slashing .288/.311/.644 this month after going 17-for-59. Cruz has also struck out 23 times in that span, but has raised his batting average from .202 to .221.

Turner went 1-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 5-0 win over the Dodgers.

Turner has yet to go hitless in a game in September, as he now owns a 12-game hitting streak. In that span, he's gone 15-for-54 (.278) with eight extra-base hits, 11 RBI and three steals. The shortstop has reached the 25-steals mark for the sixth time in the last seven years, with the abbreviated 2020 campaign being the lone exception. He's added a .304/.349/.485 slash line, 20 home runs, 98 RBI and 90 runs scored through 141 contests.

Grissom, who is not in Friday's lineup against the Phillies, will see time in the outfield corners, at second base and at designated hitter over the rest of the season, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Ozzie Albies is making his long-awaited return Friday at second base, so Atlanta will have to get creative to find playing time for Grissom. The 21-year-old rookie with a .304/.355/.482 slash line through his first 31 MLB games has played exclusively at the keystone in the majors so far, but he has the athleticism to be able to handle left or right field, and he should start at second base on days when Atlanta gives Albies the nod at designated hitter.

Barrero isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against St. Louis.

Barrero currently has a .443 OPS during the month of September and Friday marks the fourth game in the past week that he will miss. His absence will cause many shifts in the Reds' defense -- Kyle Farmer will start at shortstop, moving Spencer Steer to third base, Donovan Solano to first, Jake Fraley to designated hitter, TJ Friedl to left field and giving Aristides Aquino a chance to start in right field, batting fifth.

Wendle (abdomen) is starting at second base and hitting second Friday against the Nationals.

He made an appearance off the bench Thursday after missing a few days with a minor right core issue. Wendle is hitting .314 with one home run and one steal in 12 games this month. He should play pretty regularly down the stretch while hitting high in the lineup against righties.

The Rockies hope to get Tovar some experience in the majors before the end of the season, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The aggressive promotions for Tovar may not be at an end, as he just made his Triple-A debut this week and played 66 games at Double-A as a 20-year-old earlier this season. Every move the Rockies have made with Tovar suggests that they plan on him being their primary big-league shortstop for most, if not all, of the 2023 season. He is slashing .313/.381/.537 with 13 home runs and 17 steals in 67 games.

Grissom isn't starting Friday against Philadelphia.

Grissom served as an everyday player for Atlanta over the last month but will retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games. The 21-year-old should see decreased playing time down the stretch after Ozzie Albies (foot) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday.

Adrianza was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left quadriceps strain Friday.

Adrianza returned from the injured list in late August but saw minimal playing time while serving as a utility man over the last few weeks. He's dealing with a quad issue that will keep him out for at least a week and a half, and it's possible that he won't have a spot on Atlanta's active roster once he's fully healthy after Ozzie Albies (foot) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday.

Tovar (hip/groin) concluded his rehab assignment and was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Tovar had been on the injured list since July due to hip and groin issues, but he was on a rehab assignment over the last several weeks. He slashed .314/.383/.542 with 13 home runs, 47 RBI, 39 runs and 17 stolen bases over 66 games at Double-A Hartford to begin the season and will get to test himself against Triple-A competition to close out the year.

Barrero is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

Barrero went hitless Wednesday and went just 5-for-35 (.143) over his last 10 games, so he will open in a bench role for the second time in three contests. Kyle Farmer will start at shortstop for the Reds on Thursday.