MLB Player News

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa went 1 for 3 at the plate in Washington's 10-5 win over the Padres on Sunday.

Espinosa did his damage in the fifth when he crushed an 0-1 pitch from Ian Kennedy over the right field wall for a three-run shot, his fifth of the season.

"I got a good pitch to hit," Espinosa said to MLB.com. "I was trying to look for something I could drive. I got over-aggressive on the first pitch and I told myself to just be patient."

Manager Matt Williams likes the progress he's seen from Espinosa.

"All I know is last year," Williams said. "Last year his head was getting out in front of his body. This year, he is sitting down at the plate a little bit more and he is letting the ball come to him. Anytime you can do that, you have a better chance of having a little bit of success. He loves to play. I love to put him in there. He delivered again today for us."

Espinosa is hitting .275 with 13 RBI in 102 at-bats this season.

For just the third time this season, Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is not in the starting lineup. Pederson has been slumping lately at the plate, hitting just .154 with seven punchouts in his last seven games. So manager Don Mattingly has decided to give the youngster a rest for Saturday's matchup with the Rockies.

Enrique Hernandez will fill in at center field and bat leadoff on Saturday. 

With second baseman Dilson Herrera (finger) officially placed on the 15-day disabled list, the Mets have recalled infielder Eric Campbell , reports Mets 101.com, and will start him at third base on Saturday against the Brewers, moving Daniel Murphy back to second.

Herrera suffered a broken right middle finger while taking ground balls in practice Friday.

Campbell has been back and forth between the Mets and the minors this season, as he was sent down from the big club to Triple-A May 5.

Overall for the Mets this season, Campbell is 10 for 50 (.200) with a homer and five RBI.

Mets second baseman Dilson Herrera will be placed on the disabled list because of a broken right middle finger, reports MLB.com.

Herrera suffered the injury while taking fielding drills Friday. In 34 at-bats this season, he is batting .235. Third baseman Eric Campbell will replace Herrera on the roster. Campbell hit .200 in 50 at-bats this season. 

Mets second baseman Dilson Herrera was a late scratch Friday night against Milwaukee due to torn fingernail, according to ESPN. Manager Terry Collins swapped Herrera with Ruben Tejada in the lineup.

Herrera is hitting .235 (8 for 34) with a home run, three RBI, two walks and nine strikeouts in 10 appearances.

New York is favored (-125) at home against Milwaukee, per VegasInsider.com.

Mets infielder Daniel Murphy was given the day off Thursday and is out of the starting lineup against the Cubs. He had started all but two of the Mets' games so far this season, but with a lefty on the mound, manager Terry Collins opted to give Murphy a breather. Murphy is hitting just .154 against left-handed pitching in 2015. 

In his place, Ruben Tejada will get the start at third base and bat eighth. This is the first appearance at the hot corner for Tejada, either in the big leagues or the minor leagues. He did get some reps at third during spring training, however. 

Dilson Herrera will make his second consecutive start at second base on Thursday.

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson and shortstop Enrique Hernandez both hit home runs in Wednesday night's 5-4 loss to the Marlins. 

Both hit their home runs in the fifth inning. Hernandez hit a two-run homer and Pederson hit a solo shot. The Dodgers scored three runs in the inning. 

For Pederson, that's his 10th homer of the season. Hernandez hit his first of the year. 

Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who didn't start in San Diego's last five games, returned to the starting lineup at the eighth spot Tuesday night at Seattle, per U-T San Diego. 

Yangervis Solarte replaced Middlebrooks in four of the five games he was held out. Solarte is the designated hitter for the Padres at Safeco Field.

Middlebrooks is hitless in his last 19 at-bats, and is hitting .205 on the season.

San Diego is considered an underdog (+135) in Seattle, per VegasInsider.com.

Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson is out of the starting lineup on Monday with John Mayberry taking over in right field, the team announced.

Granderson has missed just three of the team's first 31 games for rest and started six in a row. Mayberry is hitting .120 in 25 at-bats this season. Michael Cuddyer is also back in the starting lineup after originally being reported as out for Monday.

Dilson Herrera and Kevin Plawecki all return to the lineup after getting the day off on Sunday.

The Mets are currently the underdogs (+150) against the Cubs.

Struggles against left-handers has prevented Padres switch-hitter Yangervis Solarte from really taking off in 2015.

Solarte owns a more-than-respectable slash line of .293/.343/.424. But he is just 3-for-21 against lefties. resulting in occasional benchings. He has two home runs and 18 RBI on the year.

His average, however, is at its lowest point since April 24. Solarte has seven hits in his last 31 at-bats.