MLB Player News

Tena was removed in the fourth inning of Sunday's game against the Angels due to an apparent right thumb injury, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. He went hitless in his lone at-bat before departing.

Making a second straight start at third base after he went 2-for-4 with two RBI in his Nationals debut Saturday, Tena's day was cut short when he took a hard grounder off his throwing hand. The play went down as an error, and Tena was immediately lifted from the game in favor of Ildemaro Vargas while his thumb was bleeding profusely. The Nationals should have an update on Tena's condition later Sunday.

Lux went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Saturday's 4-1 win against the Pirates.

MLB hitters have had a hard time figuring out Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes this season, but Lux had no such trouble, doubling home a run against the All-Star hurler in the first inning and adding a two-run single in the third. It was the continuation of what has been a resurgent second half of the season for Lux -- after batting just .213 prior to the All-Star break, he's posted a .383/.457/.650 slash line with three home runs, 15 RBI, nine runs and one stolen base since. While Lux's strikeout rate has jumped a bit to 27.1 percent during the second half, his overall production has been a big boost to the Dodgers. With Mookie Betts moving back to right field when he returns to the lineup Monday, Lux should continue to be a lineup regular moving forward.

The Brewers reinstated Hall (knee) from the 60-day injured list Sunday. He'll start in Milwaukee's series finale with Cincinnati.

Milwaukee already has five healthy starters, so unless manager Pat Murphy plans to expand the rotation to six men, Hall could be headed to the bullpen following Sunday's outing, which will be his first with the big club since April 20. Before landing on the IL due to a left knee sprain, Hall's spot in the rotation may have already been on thin ice, as he submitted a 7.71 ERA and 2.27 WHIP across 16.1 innings over his four starts with the big club this season. The left-hander displayed better form over the final three outings of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville, logging a 2.77 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB across 13 innings. Hall topped out at five innings and 76 pitches during his rehab assignment, so he shouldn't be operating under any significant workload restrictions Sunday.

Merrill went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk Sunday in a 9-8 extra-inning victory against Miami.

One day after hitting a game-tying homer in the ninth frame, Merrill belted a big two-run shot in the eighth inning to tie the score 7-7. The rookie outfielder has been incredibly clutch for the Padres, as four of his 17 long balls have either tied the game or given San Diego the lead in the ninth inning or later. Merrill has also been very hot of late, going deep four times in his past four contests and slashing .388/.416/.776 with five home runs, 18 RBI, 18 runs and three stolen base over his past 18 games.

Abrams (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Abrams sat out the past two games due to back spasms and said Saturday he was hoping return for Tuesday's matchup with the Orioles, so his absence from the lineup Sunday isn't surprising. The 23-year-old will have Monday's team off day to aid in his recovery ahead of Tuesday's series opener. Nasim Nunez will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Abrams' place.

Hilliard went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, five RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's loss to Atlanta.

Hilliard was locked in Saturday, launching a three-run shot on a hanging curveball from Max Fried in his first at-bat before smacking a two-run double with two outs in his second trip to the plate, tying the game at 5-5. The outfielder's three hits in the contest marked a season high, as did his five RBI. The multi-hit effort was his third of the campaign.

Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

After making five consecutive starts, Vargas now finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row, with both absences coming against right-handed pitching. Though the Nationals optioned Vargas' main competition for playing time at third base, Trey Lipscomb, to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, the club called up Jose Tena in a corresponding move. Tena will get his second straight start at the hot corner Sunday and looks like he'll be given a look as an everyday player while Vargas shifts to a utility role.

Doyle went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's loss to Atlanta.

Doyle singled in his first at-bat but was left stranded as the Rockies failed to capitalize on having the bases loaded early. The outfielder then added an RBI single in the sixth to tie the game at 8-8 before swiping his 22nd bag of the season. Doyle has now posted multiple hits in back-to-back games, though he's still batting just .189 (7-for-37) in August with two homers, five RBI and four runs scored. He's also driven in at least one run in three straight contests.

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Ruiz has gone 1-for-11 with a walk and two RBI in the past three games, and he'll head to the bench for Sunday's series finale. Riley Adams will bat eighth and catch for lefty MacKenzie Gore.

Tena went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Angels.

Picked up as part of the package the Nationals got from the Guardians for Lane Thomas, Tena was promoted from Triple-A Rochester earlier in the day and was immediately plugged into the starting lineup at third base. The move paid off when the 23-year-old walked it off in the bottom of the 10th inning with an RBI single to left-center field that likely would have gone for extra bases had there been any need for Tena to keep advancing. He has a .284/.342/.478 slash line through 100 games at Triple-A this season with 18 homers and 15 steals, and with Trey Lipscomb having flopped in his latest audition, Tena figures to get a long look, either as the regular starter at the hot corner or in a super-utility role.