MLB Player News

Espinal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Thanks to both Jonathan India and Jake Fraley recently missing multiple games due to illness, Espinal has held down a regular spot in the Cincinnati infield. He started each of the last 11 games, going 7-for-34 (.206 average) with a home run and a stolen base. Now that India and Fraley are both back to full strength, Espinal is expected to move into more of a part-time role.

Brujan will start at third base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Nationals.

Brujan will make his third consecutive start at third base and appears set to get an extended look at the position while Jake Burger (oblique) is on the injured list. Over 33 plate appearances this season, Brujan has hit .200 with zero home runs or stolen bases, one RBI and three runs. His fantasy appeal could remain largely limited to NL-only leagues for the duration of Burger's absence.

Garcia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

With southpaw Ryan Weathers on the hill for Miami, the lefty-hitting Garcia will hit the bench for the first time since April 14 while Ildemaro Vargas steps in at second base. While manning the keystone for each of the last 11 games, Garcia went 11-for-42 (.262 average) with one home run, four stolen bases, five RBI and one run.

Frazier will serve as the Royals' designated hitter and No. 9 batter in Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Frazier has made just two starts at second base since Michael Massey was reinstated from the 10-day injured list April 19, but the 32-year-old has been able to retain a regular spot in the lineup while moving between DH and the corner-outfield spots. He'll be making his sixth consecutive start Sunday.

Massey is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

With a tough lefty (Tarik Skubal) on the hill for Detroit, the lefty-hitting Massey will hit the bench in the series finale. Garrett Hampson steps in for Massey at second base.

Schuemann will start at second base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Schuemann has now occupied the keystone in four straight contests and could be the preferred option over Abraham Toro at the position while Zack Gelof (oblique) is on the injured list. The 26-year-old rookie has done little to build much job security to this point, however, as he enters Sunday's contest with a .118/.250/.294 slash line across 20 plate appearances on the season.

Lopez went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base Saturday against the Rays.

Lopez has at least one hit in six straight starts, and even as the White Sox's primary leadoff hitter, that's translated to only three runs scored. He also managed his first successful stolen base of the season after having been caught on four previous occasions. Through 85 plate appearances, Lopez has offered very little at the dish by maintaining a .219 batting average and by tallying only one extra-base hit.

Mateo went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 7-0 win over the Athletics.

Mateo has seen limited playing time this season, though he could get more looks after Jackson Holliday was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday. Through 35 plate appearances, Mateo is slashing .250/.314/.406 with four steals, one RBI, five runs scored and five doubles. He's unlikely to take a full-time role from Jordan Westburg, Ramon Urias or Cedric Mullins, but Mateo offers utility value and speed while playing primarily versus left-handed pitchers.

India went 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Rangers.

The 27-year-old slugged a two-run homer off Michael Lorenzen in the seventh inning, giving the Reds what proved to be crucial insurance runs after they'd jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. The long ball was India's first of 2024, and after managing only two multi-hit performances in his first 21 games, he's now racked up six knocks in the last two. Despite the big weekend he's putting together, he's still slashing just .222/.347/.309 on the season with two steals, eight RBI and 11 runs in 81 plate appearances.

Estrada (hamstring) is starting at second base and batting eighth Saturday against the Pirates, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Hamstring tightness forced Estrada out of Wednesday's game against the Mets and prevented him from starting Friday, but it seems to no longer be a problem heading into Saturday's contest. The 28-year-old has gone 4-for-16 with two RBI and three runs scored across his last five games.