MLB Player News

Pages is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Padres.

Pages started Wednesday's contest but has now yielded to Ivan Herrera at catcher in three of five games since Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Playing time between the two should be split fairly evenly while Willson Contreras (finger) is on the shelf.

Baker will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup in Thursday's game versus the Padres.

Baker will make his third straight start at DH, which is especially notable given that all three have come against right-handers. He's also batted either third or fourth in each contest. The 27-year-old has produced back-to-back 30-homer seasons at Triple-A Memphis and could be worth a look in deeper leagues if the playing time sticks.

Betts went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Orioles.

Betts recorded an RBI single in the third before stealing second and eventually coming around to score on a three-run shot from Teoscar Hernandez. It marked the star utility man's second straight game with a steal, and he's now hit safely in four straight contests. Betts has also been a big run producer for the Dodgers as of late, racking up eight RBI over his last seven games while scoring three runs himself over that stretch. He's batting .276 in August with seven extra-base hits, 12 RBI and eight runs scored.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a homer, two stolen bases and three runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Orioles.

Ohtani crushed a hanging slider from Corbin Burnes to lead off the contest and added a single in his second trip to the plate before swiping his 41st bag of the season and eventually coming around to score for a second time. The superstar slugger has now tallied two hits in back-to-back games and in four of his last five overall. Over that latter stretch, he's batting .400 (8-for-20) with three homers, seven RBI, eight runs and three stolen bases. He's also scored at least one run in six straight contests.

Kopech picked up the save over the Orioles on Wednesday, striking out two over a perfect ninth inning.

Kopech entered the contest with a 6-4 lead in the top of the ninth and retired the first two batters on strikes before getting Adley Rutschman to pop out to second for the final out of the game. The save was the right-hander's 12th of the season and the third in his last six appearances. Kopech has only allowed one run in 12.1 innings (12 appearances) this month, posting a 0.76 ERA in August to go along with a 16:3 K:BB. He's also recorded two strikeouts in back-to-back appearances and in three of his last four overall.

Yamamoto (triceps) allowed one run and struck out two over two innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Yamamoto surrendered a solo home run but nothing else, throwing 31 pitches over his two frames. The righty's velocity was down across the board, although that's not necessarily surprising for his first start in more than two months. The plan is for Yamamoto to make a couple more rehab starts before rejoining the Dodgers' rotation in mid-September.

Buehler did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's win over the Orioles, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk over 4.2 innings while striking out four.

Buehler retired the first four batters he faced before Ryan O'Hearn reached on a fielding error by Max Muncy with one out in the second. Cedric Mullins then reached on a dropped third strike, and Baltimore tallied three runs in the frame Buehler was later relieved by Anthony Banda after throwing 90 pitches on the night, marking the fourth consecutive start in which he's been unable to make it through five innings. The right-hander has also allowed multiple runs in eight straight outings (dating back to May 25 against the Reds) and now holds a 6.00 ERA and 8:8 K:BB across 12 frames in August.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson was noncommittal about Walker's spot in the rotation following the right-hander's loss to the Astros on Wednesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Walker surrendered six runs on 13 hits and one walk while failing to record a strikeout against Houston. The Phillies are winless over his last nine starts, and Walker holds a 7.36 ERA over that span. His next turn comes up Tuesday in Toronto, but it seems likely the Phillies will go with someone else in that spot. Tyler Phillips looks like the leading candidate, with Kolby Allard also an option once he's eligible to be recalled Sept. 10. Walker is in the second year of a four-year, $72 million contract.

Smith started at first base and went 0-for-2 in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to Oakland.

Smith made his fourth consecutive start and fifth in six games since joining the Reds. All of those starts have come against right-handers, either at first base or designated hitter. A regular role is nice, but Smith is just 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts since signing with the team.

Benson went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Athletics.

Benson's three-run home run capped a six-run seventh inning that brought the Reds all the way back from a 5-0 deficit, but they couldn't hold on for the win. The home run was Benson's first in 16 games and 13th of the season. The lefty-hitting outfielder is batting .193 with a .664 OPS and sees only sporadic playing time against right-handers.