MLB Player News

Moncada (thumb) will start at third base and bat fifth Saturday against the White Sox, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Moncada didn't start the Angels' season opener Thursday due to a thumb issue that was giving him problems during spring training, but he was able to enter as a pinch hitter and draw a walk. Now seemingly recovered, he's set to make his first start at the hot corner since March 12.

Urias hit a pinch-hit home run in Friday's victory over Seattle.

Urias lost out on a starting job at both third base and second base this spring, but he will be used in a utility infield role. The 27-year-old slashed only .191/.303/.394 in 41 games with Seattle last season but clubbed 39 home runs for the Brewers from 2021 to 2022.

Cabrera is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.

Cabrera registered only a .469 OPS against left-handers last season, so he'll step out of the starting nine Saturday with Nestor Cortes due to take the mound for Milwaukee. Pablo Reyes will draw the start at third base and bat seventh.

Urias is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Orioles.

Urias got the start at third base in Thursday's opener, going 0-for-4 with a walk. The Orioles are slotting Jordan Westburg in at third Friday while Jackson Holliday plays second base and Jorge Mateo handles shortstop.

Clement is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Orioles.

Clement got the call at third base in the opener and went hitless in three trips to the plate. The Blue Jays are going with Will Wagner at third base in the second game of the series while Clement heads to the bench.

Mead is starting at first base and batting leadoff in Friday's opener versus the Rockies.

Mead was one of the best hitters in all of baseball during spring training, going a ridiculous 22-for-42 (.524) with one home run and a 6:6 K:BB. The Rays have rewarded him by slotting him at the top of their batting order in their opener against southpaw Kyle Freeland. Much of Mead's playing time is likely to come versus lefties, but he could hit his way into a bigger workload if he gets off to a hot start.

Urshela started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Mariners.

Urshela looks set as the everyday starter at third base to begin the season. While he had just a .647 OPS over 128 regular-season games between Detroit and Atlanta last season, he still has a good glove at the hot corner. His Defensive Runs Saved ranked 18th at the position last season.

Vargas went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Angels.

Vargas was slotted into the leadoff spot and had a successful audition to keep the role. He tallied a two-run double in the second inning and then singled before coming around to score six frames later. Vargas has yet to find much traction at the big-league level, though the White Sox should afford him plenty of playing time to prove himself at in 2025.

Devers started at designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Thursday's 5-2 win over Texas.

Devers, who had just 15 spring plate appearances, looked like he could have used more in Florida. He struck out swinging three times and whiffed six times in all, including five times against Nathan Eovaldi's breaking ball, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. To be fair, Devers wasn't the only one that struggled; Boston's top four hitters went a combined 1-for-16.

Sosa went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Thursday's 8-1 Opening Day win over the Angels.

Sosa extended the White Sox's lead to eight runs in the eighth frame, when he drilled an 87-mph cutter from Ryan Johnson for a two-run homer. With Josh Rojas (toe) starting the season on the 10-day injured list, Sosa got the start at second base Opening Day and should split time at the keystone with Brooks Baldwin until Rojas returns.