MLB Player News

Estrada (hand) was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Amy Gutierrez of the Giants' official site reports.

Estrada was hit in the hand by a pitch Tuesday and hadn't started a game since then, though he did appear off the bench. He's evidently not particularly injured, as he's been optioned instead of placed on the injured list. Whether or not he plays a role in the postseason remains to be seen, but his defensive versatility and .273/.333/.479 slash line in 132 major-league plate appearances this season seemingly give him a chance.

Albies will sit Saturday against the Mets.

Albies is one of several Atlanta regulars who will get the day off Saturday as the team prioritizes staying sharp for the playoffs. Orlando Arcia will start at second base.

Garcia remains out of the lineup Saturday against Boston due to soreness in his rib cage, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

Garcia will miss his second straight game with the issue, and it's very possible he's already played his last game of the season, as the Nationals have no reason to risk him aggravating anything on the last day of the campaign. If that's the case, he'll end the year with a .242/.275/.411 line across 70 games. Jordy Mercer will make another start at second base in Garcia's absence.

Frazier will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Giants.

Frazier hits the bench after going hitless in his last two games. He now owns a .263/.325/.328 slash line in 55 games as a Padre. Ha-Seong Kim gets the start at second base.

Jones isn't starting Saturday's game against Toronto.

Jones has gone hitless with a walk and four strikeouts in his last nine plate appearances, and he'll be on the bench for the third time in the last four games. Pat Valaika will shift to second base while Richie Martin starts at shortstop.

Lopez went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, a stolen base and two runs scored in Friday's 11-6 win over Minnesota.

The shortstop has hit safely in 24 of his last 26 games, posting a scorching .352/.388/.463 slash line in that span. Lopez has finished strong in an impressive and unexpectedly successful 2021. He owns a .301/.366/.380 line with 22 stolen bases, two home runs, 43 RBI, 78 runs scored and six triples through 149 contests overall as Kansas City's everyday No. 2 hitter.

Merrifield went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 11-6 win over Minnesota.

Across his last nine games, the second baseman is batting .314 (11-for-35). Merrifield hasn't attempted a stolen base since Sept. 11, and he hasn't successfully notched a theft since Sept. 8. He's slashing .279/.319/.397 with 40 steals, 10 home runs, 74 RBI and 97 runs scored across 711 plate appearances, and he's on track to play in every game for the third straight season.

Gimenez went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 9-6 win over Texas.

The infielder has made a strong impression to close out 2021, batting .375 with three home runs, seven RBI, six runs scored and a steal in his last 11 games. Gimenez has been limited to a strong-side platoon role at second base since his call-up in August. He's posted a .220/.282/.357 slash line with five homers, 16 RBI, 23 runs scored and 11 steals in 203 plate appearances. Gimenez could enter 2022 as Cleveland's top option at the keystone, but he'll need to hit better than his .171/.216/.314 slash line this year against southpaws to be a true everyday option.

Marte went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Rockies on Friday.

Marte's 419-foot blast was part of Arizona's seven-run third inning, though even that wasn't enough to prevent the team from registering its 110th loss of the campaign. While Marte has been set back by multiple hamstring injuries this season, he has been the team's best hitter when healthy, slashing .317/.378/.530 with 14 homers, 48 RBI and a pair of stolen bases over 334 at-bats.

Kemp went 2-for-3 with an RBI ground-rule double, a walk, a stolen base and a run in a win over the Astros on Friday.

Kemp continued his torrid stretch at the plate with his fourth multi-hit effort in the last seven games, a stretch during which he's hit .417 (10-for-24) with Friday's double, a home run and four RBI. The veteran's late-season tear now has his slash line sitting at an impressive .270/.378/.404, with all three figures qualifying as new career bests.