MLB Player News

Donovan (rib) will start at second base and bat third in Friday's game versus the Brewers.

Donovan missed the previous two contests after he had a rib pop out of place, but he's back in there for the start of the series against the Brewers. The 28-year-old will carry a .925 OPS into play Friday.

McNeil will start at second base and bat eighth in Friday's contest versus the Nationals.

It will be the season debut for McNeil, who missed the first four weeks of the season with a right oblique strain. The 33-year-old will serve as the Mets' primary second baseman but is also expected to see some action in the outfield.

Tawa went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's 7-4 extra-inning loss to the Rays.

Tawa's fifth-inning home run put Arizona up 4-1. The homer was the third in five games for the 26-year-old, who has six extra-base knocks among his nine hits (.389 ISO) over 36 at-bats. Tawa was making his fifth straight start Thursday in place of Ketel Marte (hamstring), while Garrett Hampson last started at second base a week ago. Marte just began a running program, but Arizona has yet to indicate when he might be ready for a rehab assignment.

Baty was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Manny Gomez of NJ.com reports.

Baty launched his first home run of the season Wednesday but has struggled to a .204 average paired with a 33.3 percent strikeout rate across 57 plate appearances to begin the year. With Jeff McNeil (oblique) back on the field, Baty will try to regain his form with Syracuse.

McNeil (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list Thursday, Manny Gomez of NJ.com reports.

McNeil was on track to return from the injured list Friday, but club instead elected to push through the transaction on Thursday's off day. He's expected to serve in a large-side platoon at second base while hitting near the bottom of the Mets' order. McNeil went 11-for-28 across eight games during his rehab assignment.

Frazier is not starting Thursday against the Angels.

Frazier will sit with lefty Tyler Anderson on the mound for the Angels, and he's now been in the lineup for only two of six games against southpaws this season. Jared Triolo will start at second base and hit eighth.

Farmer isn't in the lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Royals.

Farmer went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the first game of Thursday's twin bill, and he'll now watch the beginning of Game 2 from the bench. His absence will open up shortstop for Aaron Schunk to pick up a start and bat ninth against Michael Lorenzen.

Amador is not in the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader in Kansas City.

The Rockies will go with Kyle Farmer at second base in the first game of the double dip. Amador will likely be back in the lineup for the second contest.

Donovan (rib) is expected to return to the Cardinals' lineup Friday versus the Brewers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Donovan missed the final two games of the series in Atlanta after he had a rib pop out of place. He'll get a third day of rest during the Cardinals' off day Thursday before rejoining the lineup for the series opener Friday at home against Milwaukee.

Marte (hamstring) has begun a running program, MLB.com reports.

Marte began swinging a bat a week ago and has moved to the next step in his recovery. There's still no word of when the second baseman can begin a rehab assignment. The Diamondbacks are getting by with a combination of Tim Tawa and Garrett Hampson at the keystone.