MLB Player News

McNeil (knee) will start at third base and bat sixth Thursday against the Nationals.

McNeil received a maintenance day in Wednesday's series finale versus the Marlins to tend to the knee issue, which proved to be only a minor concern. Assuming he incurs no setbacks while playing Thursday, McNeil should continue to fill an everyday role at third base while the Mets wait for either Todd Frazier (oblique) or Jed Lowrie (knee) to make it back from the injured list.

Albies went 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a solo home run Wednesday against the Cubs.

Albies took Jon Lester deep in the third inning to record his first home run of the season. He later reached base on a walk and stole second, his second swiped bag of the campaign. It's been a quick start to the season for him, as he's collected at least one hit in every game this season and now has two three-hit efforts.

Albies is starting at second base and hitting leadoff Wednesday against the Cubs.

Albies hit sixth in each of the first four games of the season, but he'll jump to the top of the order Wednesday with regular leadoff man Ender Inciarte getting the day off. The youngster is 6-for-14 with a pair of doubles and a 3:1 BB:K through four games this season and could continue to fill in atop the order when Inciarte is out of the lineup.

McNeil is dealing with a minor knee injury, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil's knee is apparently "banged up," which helps explain his absence from Wednesday's lineup. Fortunately, the issue doesn't appear to be anything overly serious, as the utility man is available to pinch hit if needed.

McNeil is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Marlins.

McNeil will give way to J.D. Davis at the hot corner Wednesday with right-hander Trevor Richards -- who holds reverse splits -- toeing the rubber for the Marlins. Through five games this season, the utility man is 6-for-15 with a trio of extra-base hits and a 2:2 BB:K.

Marte is starting in center field and hitting second Wednesday against the Padres.

Marte has primarily hit sixth this season, but he'll jump to the two hole for Wednesday's series finale after going 7-for-14 with a pair of extra-base hits and a pair of stolen bases over his last three games. Eduardo Escobar drops to fifth in the order as a result.

Marte went 2-for-5 with a solo homer in an 8-5 victory against the Padres on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old went hitless in the first two games of the season, but he's recorded multiple hits in each of his last three contests, going 7-for-14 (.500) with two extra-base knocks. Marte is hitting .296 with a homer, a triple, six RBI and two steals in six games this season.

Rosario went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, two RBI and a stolen base Tuesday against the Marlins.

Rosario played a big part in the Met's first-inning explosion, driving a two-RBI double to left field. He later reached base on a walk and subsequently stole second base, his first of the season. After leading off Monday, Rosario was back to batting seventh Tuesday and he continues to bat primarily toward the bottom of the solid Mets lineup.

Hernandez went 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot in a 4-2 loss to the Giants on Tuesday and is now hitting .375 with two home runs over his first 16 at-bats.

It marked the second time in five games that Hernandez has led off, with Joc Pederson handling the role in the other three. Regardless of where he's hit in the lineup, the 27-year-old has been raking thus far in 2019, and Pederson's poor numbers against left-handed pitching seem to be giving Hernandez a path to the top of the order in matchups against southpaws.

Garcia will open the campaign at Double-A Harrisburg, Byron Kerr of MASN Sports reports.

Garcia, who won't turn 19 years old until May, will be one of the youngest players in the Eastern League when he debuts with Harrisburg. The assignment is an aggressive one, but certainly not undeserved after Garcia slashed .299/.338/.412 in 221 plate appearances at High-A Potomac last season and held his own at big-league camp this spring. The Nationals will likely continue to develop Garcia as a shortstop, though he could eventually shift to second base as he draws closer to the big leagues.