MLB Player News

France was designated for assignment by the Mariners last week and has now found himself with a new team. The 30-year-old has a career-high 9.2 percent barrel rate and 8.2 percent walk rate but is also sporting a career-high strikeout rate and hitting just .223. Given his barrel rate, there could be a spike in value in Great American Ballpark if the Reds can get him to lift the ball a little more. How much France plays is another question. If he slots in at DH or 1B then that would mean less playing time for Jeimer Candelario or Noelvi Marte. If he pushes Spencer Steer to the outfield then either Jake Fraley or Will Benson could see less time. It’s a situation to monitor in the coming days.

Pages has been absolutely scorching at the plate to start the season. He continued on Saturday with a base hit, stolen base, and run scored in the third inning before slugging a three-run homer off Brad Lord in the fifth. Pages added a base hit in the ninth and is 15-for-30 with a 1.349 OPS through eight games.

Freeman put the Dodgers on the board early, tagging Jake Irvin for a two-run double in the first inning. He did it again in the second, adding two more runs on another double to collect his fourth RBI of the game. The 36-year-old first baseman has gone 8-for-33 (.242) with two homers and nine RBI across his first eight games.

Abrams drew a walk in the fourth inning and stole second for his first steal of the season before scoring a run. He drew another walk in the sixth and later went yard for a two-run homer in the eighth. The 25-year-old shortstop has now homered in three straight games, collecting 12 RBI in the early going.

Glasnow worked a pair of scoreless innings before the Nationals put a run on the board with two hits in the third. A walk and a double plated a second run in the fourth. Glasnow would settle in for two more scoreless frames, completing six at 101 pitches. He collected nine strikeouts on 12 whiffs. The 32-year-old right-hander has allowed four runs with a 15/3 K/BB ratio across 12 innings over his first two starts. Glasnow lines up for a start against the Rangers in Los Angeles next Saturday.

The Dodgers jumped on Irvin right away, bringing two runs across on a base hit, walk, and a double by Freddie Freeman. Irvin would surrender three more runs in the second inning, including two more on another double by Freeman. Two hits put another run on the board in the third. Irvin would have his first clean inning in the fourth before departing in the fifth at 85 pitches. It’d be best to avoid Irvin when the 29-year-old right-hander takes on the Brewers in Milwaukee on Friday.

Zastrynzy suffered a setback during his recovery, and the 34-year-old will return to Milwaukee for further testing. Once healthy, he’ll pitch in the middle of the Brewers’ bullpen, but it’s anyones guess when that will take place.

Soto is not in the lineup for Saturday’s bout against the Giants with the strain. The 27-year-old left Friday’s game with tightness, and the good news is it doesn’t appear that the slugger will need a trip to the injured list. He still likely will miss a couple of games at least, and Jared Young will get the start in left field in Soto’s absence.

Contreras will begin the second game of the doubleheader on the bench with Gary Sanchez earning the start behind the plate and hitting fifth.

Lee missed a pair of games due to illness, but he’s well enough to be in the lineup for Saturday’s bout against Steven Matz and the Tampa Bay pitching staff.

Corbin threw 74 pitches, with 53 of them landing for strikes. He reportedly averaged 91.2 mph with his sinker, which is right around what he was at wit the offering in 2025. It’s possible Corbin will make one more minor league start, but with Toronto needing help in the rotation, that next outing could come with the Blue Jays.