MLB Player News

Vargas (thumb) is back in the Dodgers' lineup Friday against the Diamondbacks.

Vargas will start at second base and bat fifth after missing a couple of games due to a sore right thumb, the result of being hit by a pitch Monday. Mookie Betts is out in right field Friday and hitting leadoff.

Rojas went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Rojas has four hits, two doubles, three RBI and a stolen base in the last two games. He's settling into what appears to be the strong side of a platoon at third base with Evan Longoria.

Marte went 1-for-4 with a double in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Marte had a leadoff double in the eighth inning and reached third base on a wild pitch but was stranded there. The hit extended a modest batting streak to four games, during which he's 4-for-17 with three two-baggers. Marte is batting .179 (5-for-28) with one run and one stolen base through seven games.

Estrada (calf) went 3-for-6 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 16-6 win over the White Sox.

Estrada was out of action for a couple of days after fouling a ball off his left calf Monday. He returned with a strong game, though he didn't have any of the Giants' five home runs in Thursday's slugfest. The infielder has been fantastic to start the season, batting .409 (9-for-22) with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases through five contests. While his bat will eventually cool off, he's pretty close to a lock to be in the lineup most days.

Vargas (thumb) is still sore but is available to pinch hit Thursday against Arizona, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Vargas is able to both hit and throw, but he remains out of the lineup for the second consecutive game with sore right thumb. Unless he suffers a setback, he'll avoid the injured list and could be back for Friday's matchup against the Diamondbacks.

Vargas (thumb) isn't in the Dodgers' lineup Thursday against Arizona, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.

Thursday marks the second game Vargas will miss after getting hit in the thumb by a pitch Monday. He's reportedly been able to swing a bat just fine, but the issue seems to still be affecting his ability to throw the ball, which could signal the possibility for a pinch-hit opportunity. While Vargas sits, Mookie Betts will start at second base Thursday, opening up right field for Jason Heyward.

Pouaka-Grego tore his ACL in the Australian Baseball League and will miss the 2023 season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.

The 18-year-old infielder hit .301/.424/.466 with three home runs, two steals and as many walks (16) as strikeouts in 35 Florida Complex League games last season. He will presumably open the 2024 season at Single-A.

Rojas is batting leadoff Thursday against the Dodgers.

Rojas has been in the leadoff spot in each of his starts so far this season, though he's also been sitting regularly against lefties. He'll kick things off for the Diamondbacks on Thursday versus right-hander Dustin May.

Estrada (calf) is back in the Giants' lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox.

Estrada was sore for a bit after fouling a ball off his left calf Monday, but he's ready to roll after resting up for a couple days. The 27-year-old is manning shortstop and batting eighth against Chicago righty Lance Lynn.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said he expects Estrada (calf) to be back in the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

After fouling a ball off his left calf in Monday's 12-3 win over Chicago, Estrada had been in line to start Wednesday following Tuesday's off day, but the Giants ultimately scratched him from the lineup. Kapler suggested the Giants opted to hold Estrada out as a matter of precaution because the infielder's bruised calf was still a little stiff when he reported to the ballpark Wednesday. Assuming Estrada warms up without issue Thursday, he should reclaim his usual post at the keystone.