MLB Player News

Abrams (back) is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff Tuesday against Atlanta, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Abrams was scratched from the lineup for Monday's series opener due to back tightness, but it was apparently a minor concern since he's back in the starting nine a day later. The 25-year-old was struggling at the plate to finish August, batting .106 (5-for-47) with a 32.1 percent strikeout rate in his last 12 games.

Tovar isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles.

Tovar will move to the bench for a second time in three games after recording just one hit and five strikeouts in his last 13 at-bats. Cole Carrigg will shift to shortstop to cover for Tovar while Zac Veen, Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak start across the outfield.

Bogaerts went 1-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Monday's 5-0 win over the Reds.

Bogaerts delivered a two-run double in the fourth inning to extend San Diego's lead during a four-run frame. Despite the timely hit, his production has continued to trend downward during a difficult season, with his .217 average representing a career-low mark. Bogaerts owns a .638 OPS across 519 plate appearances this season.

Pratt went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 17-3 loss to the Cubs.

Pratt launched a two-run homer over the left-field fence in the seventh inning, though it had little impact on the result as the Cubs cruised to a blowout victory. It marked the shortstop's first homer since July 25. Through 187 plate appearances, the 22-year-old rookie is slashing .270/.339/.371 with three homers, 22 RBI, 25 runs and 12 stolen bases.

Ortiz is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.

On the bench for the third time in six games, Ortiz has begun to find himself as the odd man out on the left side of the Milwaukee infield. Ortiz should continue to see regular starts against left-handed pitching, but Cooper Pratt and David Hamilton are likely to be prioritized ahead of him versus righties.

Abrams has been taken out of Monday's starting nine against Miami due to back tightness, per Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic.

The 25-year-old played in seven straight games after missing a few with an ankle injury, with five of Abrams' seven starts coming at designated hitter over that span. Nasim Nunez will replace Abrams at shortstop and bat eighth.

De La Cruz (quadriceps) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Monday's game versus the Padres.

De La Cruz departed Sunday's win over the Cubs due to left quad tightness, which manager Terry Francona clarified Monday was a "small strain," per Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati. While De La Cruz plans to play through the issue, it could tamp down his aggressiveness on the basepaths, though it shouldn't affect him in the batter's box.

The Pirates will transfer Griffin's (finger) rehab assignment from Double-A Altoona to Triple-A Indianapolis beginning Tuesday, Dominic Campbell of SI.com reports.

On the shelf since July 6 due to a torn sagittal band on his left ring finger, Griffin is closing in on a return to the Pirates' active roster after he kicked off his rehab assignment over the weekend. In his lone game with Altoona on Sunday, Griffin went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts while playing seven innings at shortstop. The star rookie checked out fine after being evaluated by team trainers Monday and will now get a few more games under his belt at Indianapolis before likely coming off the 60-day injured list when first eligible Friday.

Winn (thumb) could be activated from the 10-day injured list when first eligible Tuesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Working his way back from a fractured left thumb, Winn resumed swinging a bat this past weekend and has felt significant improvement. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol on Sunday stopped short of committing to Winn being activated Tuesday, but the skipper did say the transaction would occur early on during the team's Sept. 1-9 road trip.

De La Cruz (quadriceps) has a chance to play Monday against the Padres, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

De La Cruz exited Sunday's 7-5 win over the Cubs in the seventh inning with left quad tightness, but manager Terry Francona wasn't overly concerned following the game. The skipper said that he doesn't believe the injury is very bad, and he outlined that De La Cruz could be in the lineup for Monday's series opener with San Diego. The shortstop will undergo an evaluation Monday before any decision is made as to his availability, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, but De La Cruz appears to have avoided a significant injury and can be considered day-to-day for the time being.