MLB Player News

Lipscomb will start at third base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Called up from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Lipscomb will make his second straight start at third base after going 1-for-5 with a run scored in the Nationals' 14-6 win in the second game of the series with St. Louis. With Washington designating Nick Senzel for assignment Saturday, Lipscomb should have a fairly clear path to a regular role at the hot corner, if his performance warrants him sticking around as an everyday player. Over four stints in the majors this season, Lipscomb enters Sunday's game with a collective .236/.307/.268 slash line to go with one home run and 10 stolen bases across 137 plate appearances.

Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Vargas picked up five straight starts in the infield between last Sunday and Thursday, but he benefited largely from Washington facing three left-handed pitchers over that stretch. He'll now hit the bench for the third game in a row, with a right-hander taking the hill for the opposition in each of those contests.

Chapman went 1-for-3 with two walks, one stolen base and two runs scored in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Guardians.

Tyler Fitzgerald stole second, and that gave Chapman enough time to dart home for the Giants' third run. Chapman has done it all over his last 15 games, batting .327 (18-for-55) with four home runs, three steals, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored in that span. Coming into 2024, he had stolen a total of 11 bases in his career, but he's already up to eight this season while adding 12 homers, 42 RBI, 58 runs scored and a .244/.328/.422 slash line through 87 games.

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Muncy (oblique) has been shut down from swinging a bat, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Roberts added that Muncy hasn't progressed through his rehab as fast as the team had hoped, and the chances of the third baseman beginning a rehab assignment near the All-Star break have been reduced significantly. A right oblique strain has kept Muncy on the injured list since May 17, and his latest setback once again leaves him without a clear return timeline.

The Nationals recalled Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.

Lipscomb will begin his fourth stint in the majors this season, as he takes the spot on the 26-man roster vacated by Nick Senzel, who was designated for assignment. After being optioned to Rochester on June 24, Lipscomb went 15-for-38 with five doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI. He will start at third base and bat eighth in Saturday's game against the Cardinals, per Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com.

Arenado went 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Friday's 7-6 extra-innings win over the Nationals.

Arenado had one of his best games of the season. Even with his four hits, he remains cold in terms of run production -- he has just two RBI over his last 14 contests. For the year, he's at a .265/.317/.377 slash line with seven home runs, 34 RBI, 32 runs scored, 14 doubles and a stolen base over 81 games.

Morel isn't in the Cubs' lineup Saturday against the Angels.

Morel has put together a three-game hitting streak, though he has also struck out six times in 12 at-bats over that span. He'll take a day to rest Saturday while David Bote fills in at third base, batting eighth.

Riley went 1-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's loss to the Phillies.

Aaron Nola let a sinker catch too much of the plate in the fourth inning, and Riley drove it over the wall in center field for Atlanta's first runs of the night. The third baseman has an extra-base hit and at least one RBI in four straight games, and over his last 20 contests he's slashing .362/.438/.797 with six doubles, eight homers, 17 runs and 17 RBI.

Candelario went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 5-4 loss to Detroit.

The steal was the fourth of the season for Candelario, who swiped a career-high eight bags in 2023. The corner infielder/designated hitter, who reversed a season-opening slump in June, is back on the skids. Candelario is 3-for-28 with a 30 percent strikeout rate over the last seven games.

Suarez started at third base and went 1-for-3 in Friday's 10-8 loss to the Padres.

Suarez, whose job was in jeopardy three weeks ago, has resumed his role as the team's everyday third baseman since the Diamondbacks sent Blaze Alexander back to Triple-A Reno. Suarez has started seven consecutive games and is 7-for-22 (.318) over that time, raising his season average above .200.