MLB Player News

Norby went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Brewers.

The third baseman took Quinn Priester deep in the fourth inning, snapping a 13-game homer drought for Norby and giving him his fifth long ball of the season. He's had trouble building much momentum at the plate after getting a belated start to the campaign due to an oblique injury he suffered in spring training. Since the beginning of June, Norby's slashing just .204/.262/.286 with two homers, three steals, eight RBI and 11 runs in 28 contests.

Marsee is slashing .352/.420/.750 with nine homers, five steals, 16 runs and 19 RBI over his last 23 games for Triple-A Jacksonville.

Acquired from the Padres as part of the package for Luis Arraez last year, Marsee's status has tumbled drastically since he was a borderline top-100 prospect heading into 2024, but the 24-year-old outfielder is doing his best to regain some shine. There are still warts in his profile -- he's been caught stealing eight times during his current hot streak, for instance -- but if Miami's big-league roster develops a hole, either via injury or by trading someone like Jesus Sanchez, Marsee could be the next man up.

Joe (illness) started at first base and went 0-for-3 for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

Joe played five innings for the Bats in what was the start of a rehab assignment. He can be activated at any time, but Joe would have a depth role if the Reds bring him back to the majors.

Espinal started at second base and went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 9-6 win over Philadelphia.

Espinal, who was a prominent member of the third-base rotation while Noelvi Marte was on the 10-day injured list, was moved off the hot corner Friday with Marte's return. He drew the start at second base while Matt McLain served as the Reds' designated hitter, but Espinal's inclusion in the lineup was likely a byproduct of the Phillies sending a lefty starter (Jesus Luzardo) to the hill. The right-handed-hitting Espinal isn't expected to see regular playing time versus righties now that Marte is back in the fold.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Friday that he hopes Walker (appendix) will be ready for activation from the 10-day injured list within the next two weeks, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Walker seems to be physically ready to return after landing on the IL on June 25 due to appendicitis. However, the Cardinals are having him work on a swing adjustment, and they have specific staff at Double-A Springfield -- where Walker is on his rehab assignment -- that they believe can help with that adjustment. The Cardinals could hold off on activating Walker until the start of the second half, as that would be the two-week mark from Mozeliak's statement Friday.

Marte went 0-for-2 with a walk and an RBI in Friday's 9-6 win over the Phillies.

Marte was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday and started at third base. He's expected to be the primary starter at the hot corner, but manager Terry Francona could occasionally use the position to get at-bats for others.

Senzatela (3-12) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over 5.2 innings as the Rockies fell 3-2 to the White Sox. He struck out four.

The veteran righty fell just short of his second quality start of the season, getting the hook after he served up what proved to be a game-winning solo homer by Edgar Quero, then plunking Michael Taylor (neck) with a pitch. Senzatela's dozen losses are the most in the majors, and he hasn't given the Rockies at least six innings in a start since May 20, stumbling to a 6.87 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 21:18 K:BB through 36.2 innings over his last eight trips to the mound. He'll try to right the ship in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Cincinnati.

Naylor started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Friday's 9-3 loss to the Royals.

Naylor, who recently battled neck spasms, played the field for the first time since his return. He served as the designated hitter Wednesday before being held out of the starting nine against a tough left-hander Thursday. The RBI was his 55th, which ranks third on the team.

Graveman (hip) threw a live batting practice session Friday, MLB.com reports.

Graveman's session was overshadowed by the hitter he threw to -- rehabbing outfielder Corbin Carroll (wrist) -- but the reliever's activity carries significance. Arizona's bullpen ranks 28th in the majors with a 5.18 ERA, and the team's relief corps has had recent meltdowns in the latter innings of losses. Graveman battled a back injury and missed the first six weeks of the season before a right hip impingement shut him down early in June.

Baldwin went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Orioles.

The rookie backstop accounted for all of Atlanta's offense when he crushed a Charlie Morton fastball to right field in the sixth inning. Baldwin has hit a bit of a wall over the last couple weeks, going just 2-for-18 since June 24, but both hits left the yard. On the season, he's slashing .274/.348/.476 with 10 homers and 28 RBI, and Atlanta seems content to deploy a timeshare behind the plate with Baldwin and Sean Murphy, with each catcher starting five of the last 10 games.