MLB Player News

Steer isn't in Cincinnati's lineup for Saturday's game against Pittsburgh.

Steer will get a day to rest Saturday after slashing .190/.301/.365 with six RBI across 73 plate appearances since the start of September. His absence will allow Will Benson to pick up a start in left field and bat ninth.

Cruz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored Friday against the Reds.

Cruz hasn't hit for much power across the last six weeks, as Friday's shot was only his second homer in his last 35 games. Nevertheless, it was his 20th of the season -- his first time hitting that threshold -- and he has still put together an encouraging second half. Since the All-Star break, he's hit .302 with a .368 on-base percentage to go along with 15 stolen bases.

Gibson (8-8) took the loss Friday as the Cardinals fell 5-1 to the Guardians, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out two.

A Thomas Saggese throwing error allowed Gibson to barely qualify for his 13th quality start of the season, but he once again didn't get much run support. The right-hander has only one win since the All-Star break, going 1-5 over his last 11 outings despite a respectable 4.08 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 50:24 K:BB through 64 innings. Gibson will try to close out his season on a high note next weekend on the road in San Francisco.

Contreras went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.

The star backstop took Zac Gallen deep in the fifth inning as the Brewers rallied from an early 4-0 deficit, but the Milwaukee offense failed to score a run in any other frame. Contreras is red hot with the playoffs looming, slashing .400/.490/.700 over his last 12 games with three doubles, three homers, eight runs and 12 RBI, and he sits four runs and eight RBI short of reaching 100 in each category for the first time in his career.

Rea came away with a no-decision in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Diamondbacks, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander got lifted after 67 pitches (45 strikes) with the Brewers down 4-0, but a rally in the bottom of the fifth inning took Rea off the hook for the loss. The 34-year-old hasn't worked more than four innings in any of his last five appearances, stumbling to an 8.68 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB through 18.2 innings over that stretch. With Milwaukee having locked up the NL Central title, Rea figures to get one more start in the final week as the team sets up its postseason rotation, but he's almost certainly ticketed for the bullpen in the playoffs.

Puk gave up a hit and struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his third save of the season in a 7-4 win over the Brewers.

A Diamondbacks reliever hadn't recorded a traditional save since Sept. 3, but with the team protecting a three-run lead Friday, Justin Martinez was deployed in the seventh inning to face the heart of the Brewers' order, while Ryan Thompson got the eighth and Puk handled the ninth. If Martinez is moving into a highest-leverage role rather than being held back for the ninth, it could open up a save chance or two over the final week of the season for Puk, who is on an impressive roll -- he's hasn't been tagged for a run since Aug. 2, posting a 0.53 WHIP and 34:3 K:BB over his last 20.2 innings with two saves and five holds.

Gallen (13-6) picked up the win Friday, giving up four runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk over five innings in a 7-4 victory over the Brewers. He struck out five.

The righty blanked Milwaukee for four innings before falling apart in the fifth, blowing a 4-0 lead by serving up long balls to Joey Ortiz, William Contreras and Garrett Mitchell. Arizona struck back for three more runs in the top of the sixth, however, allowing Gallen to escape with the win. It marks Gallen's first time allowing multiple homers since April 26, and he's been both lucky and good down the stretch as the Diamondbacks push for a playoff spot, going 4-0 over his last six outings with a 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 43:15 K:BB through 32 innings. He lines up to make his final start of the regular season at home next week against the Giants.

Benson went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 8-3 win over Pittsburgh.

Benson walked to lead off the fourth inning, stole a base and came home on Tyler Stephenson's bases-loaded double. The swipe was Benson's 15th of the season and first in 25 games. His playing time has been erratic over the last few months due to a batting average that has remained below the Mendoza Line since June 19.

India went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 8-3 win over the Pirates.

India went deep in the fourth inning, his 15th home run of the season and first in 14 games. He's hit safely in seven of the last nine contests, going 10-for-32 (.313) with five walks, four extra-base hits, five RBI and five runs scored during that stretch.

De La Cruz went 1-for-4 with a walk, a steal and two runs scored in Friday's 8-3 win over Pittsburgh.

De La Cruz stole a bag in the fourth inning and came in to score on a single by Tyler Stephenson. The theft was De La Cruz's 65th this season and 100th of his career. He joined Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson as the only players in the modern era with 100 or more steals in their first two seasons.