MLB Player News

Rodgers (jaw) is starting at second base and batting second Friday at Cincinnati.

Rodgers was held out of the lineup Thursday after undergoing a root canal, but he's back in action Friday after missing only one game. The 26-year-old went 2-for-17 with a triple, a run and five strikeouts in the four games that preceded the absence.

Massey went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk in Thursday's 7-1 loss to the White Sox.

Massey went 5-for-10 with two doubles, one RBI and one run scored in this week's three-game series versus Chicago. The second baseman has handled a near-everyday role lately, though he slumped in the latter half of August. Overall, he's posted a .281/.350/.404 slash line with a home run, two stolen bases, nine RBI and six runs scored through his first 101 big-league plate appearances.

Arroyo started at second base and went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and three RBI in Thursday's 9-8 win over the Rangers.

Arroyo picked up the start in place of a resting Trevor Story, and his bat remained scorching hot. He owns a .346/.370/.442 line over the last 12 games while driving in nine during that span. Arroyo shifted to first base for the final inning after Enrique Hernandez pinch hit for starting first baseman Franchy Cordero. With news that Eric Hosmer had a planned rehab assignment scrapped amid lingering back soreness, first base remains the likeliest path to playing time for Arroyo.

Rodgers isn't starting Thursday against Atlanta after he underwent a root canal, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Ryan McMahon is starting at second base Thursday, and Rodgers' absence from the lineup apparently stems from his dental procedure. Manager Bud Black said before the game that the team will try to avoid using Rodgers on Thursday, but he'll hit in the cage in case he's needed at some point. The 26-year-old is expected to return to the lineup Friday.

Villar was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Villar was sent down by the Giants in early August but will return to the majors Thursday with rosters expanding to 28 players. The 25-year-old has played in 23 big-league games this season and has a .175/.338/.286 slash line with one home run, seven RBI and eight runs scored.

Trejo was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.

Trejo spent the last month in the minors and slashed .358/.382/.741 with eight home runs, 21 RBI and 14 runs over 20 games after being demoted to Triple-A in early August. However, he'll provide infield depth for the big-league club now that active rosters have expanded to 28 players.

Clement was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Clement was demoted to Columbus in early August and will return to Cleveland with big-league rosters expanding to 28 players. The 26-year-old has a .492 OPS in 158 plate appearances in the bigs this season and should fill a utility role while up in the majors.

Rodgers isn't in the lineup Thursday against Atlanta.

Rodgers is getting a rare day off after he went just 2-for-17 with a triple, a run and five strikeouts over the last four games. Ryan McMahon will take over at second base and lead off Thursday.

Hernandez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Hernandez has an .855 OPS with a home run, two RBI and three runs over his past five contests and will take a seat in the series opener versus Texas. Rob Refsnyder will man center field and bat eighth Thursday.

Los Angeles recalled Vargas from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.

The Dodgers' top hitting prospect won't have a clear path to an everyday role as he rejoins the big club, but expect manager Dave Roberts to find room for Vargas in the lineup at least a couple times a week while veteran players like Justin Turner, Max Muncy and Chris Taylor receive occasional maintenance days over the final month of the season. Vargas logged eight plate appearances with the Dodgers earlier this summer, but he's otherwise spent the entire 2022 campaign at Oklahoma City, where he turned in a .915 OPS while chipping in 16 steals over 113 games.