MLB Player News

Fraley isn't in the Reds' lineup Friday against the Pirates.

Fraley will get a day off Friday after going 1-for-9 with two walks during the Reds' previous series with the Twins. Fraley's absence will allow Christian Encarnacion-Strand to step in as the DH while batting fourth.

Stephenson isn't in the Reds' lineup Friday against the Pirates.

Stephenson is just 2-for-22 across his last six games, and his offensive woes will now cause him to miss his second start in a row. Luke Maile will start behind the plate Friday and bat ninth.

Pederson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Pederson has warmed up a bit, going 5-for-18 (.278) with two homers over his last five games. The rest of the Giants didn't follow -- his blast was one of only three hits for them in Thursday's loss. The designated hitter has a .245/.353/.434 slash line with 15 long balls, 51 RBI and 57 runs scored across 113 contests this season.

Brebbia (3-1) allowed one run on one hit and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Thursday versus the Dodgers.

Brebbia relieved starter Kyle Harrison with one out in the sixth inning. Will Smith tagged Brebbia for a triple and J.D. Martinez added a sacrifice fly to put the Dodgers ahead for good. Brebbia has allowed four runs (three earned) over 5.2 innings in September -- he's struggled since returning from a Grade 2 lat strain. The right-hander is at a 3.41 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 43:11 K:BB with six holds and a blown save over 34.1 innings this year.

Lindor went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases in Thursday's loss to the Phillies.

The shortstop's bat has slowed down in September -- Lindor's slashing .257/.325/.392 through 83 plate appearances -- but he's remained busy on the basepaths with four steals in his last four games, giving him 30 in a season for the first time in his career. Lindor still has an outside shot at a 30-30 campaign, but he would need four homers in the Mets' final nine contests to pull it off.

Hassell will play in the Arizona Fall League this October, Jonathan Mayo and Sam Dykstra of MLB.com report.

The 22-year-old has seen his prospect status dim significantly in 2023 after he stumbled to a combined .221/.324/.321 slash line over 121 games between High-A and Double-A, and Hassell's decline began when he broken the hamate bone in his wrist in last year's AFL. He has shown signs of life at the plate late in the season for Double-A Harrisburg however, slashing .281/.349/.351 in September with a marginally improved 25.4 percent strikeout rate, and a strong showing in Arizona could get his career back on track.

Alzolay (forearm) will throw a touch-and-feel bullpen session Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

While not a regular bullpen session, Alzolay getting on a mound in any fashion still looks to be a notable step forward. The Cubs' closer is working his way back from a right forearm strain and is still hopeful he can make it back before the end of the regular season. Alzolay is eligible for activation Sept. 26, although he could need a little more time than that even if all goes well.

Yarbrough is expected to serve as a bulk reliever in Friday's game versus the Giants, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Caleb Ferguson will be the Dodgers' opener. It's possible the team will use a right-hander in between Ferguson and Yarbrough in order to break up the lefties, but Yarbrough looks to be in line to eat up the bulk of the innings.

Ferguson will serve as an opener for the Dodgers in Friday's game versus the Giants, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Manager Dave Roberts also noted that Ryan Yarbrough will be part of the pitching plan, likely as a bulk reliever. It's the sixth opener assignment this season for Ferguson, who boasts a 2.56 ERA and 66:21 K:BB over 56.1 frames in 2023.

Young is starting at designated hitter and batting seventh in Friday's game versus the Rockies.

It will be Young's first start since he was recalled Tuesday, although he did have an RBI triple off the bench that day. Regular DH Christopher Morel will begin this one on the bench.