MLB Player News

Hayes went 3-for-5 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base Tuesday in the Pirates' 6-2 win over the Reds.

After languishing at the plate for most of August, Hayes has been swinging a hot bat for much of September, slashing .323/.338/.371 while scoring 11 runs and going 4-for-4 on stolen-base attempts on the month. Though Hayes hasn't tapped into much power, he should continue to run regularly while handling the leadoff duties for the Pirates. He's batted exclusively at the top of the lineup since moving past a hand injury earlier this month.

Suarez will start at third base and bat sixth Wednesday against the Pirates.

Suarez was moved into a short-side platoon role in mid-August, but the 30-year-old seems to have wrested primary duties at third base back from Mike Moustakas, who has struggled mightily at the dish since returning from the injured list. The lefty-hitting Moustakas will be on the bench for the fourth game in a row, with the last two benchings coming against right-handed starting pitchers. Meanwhile, after churning out consecutive two-hit games to begin the week, the righty-hitting Suarez looks like he'll see regular work against both righties and lefties for the foreseeable future.

Moustakas isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Moustakas has lost out on regular playing time recently and will be out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive game and the second straight contest against a right-handed pitcher. Eugenio Suarez will start at the hot corner and bat sixth, and he appears to have recaptured the top job at third base from Moustakas, at least for the time being.

Vargas started at shortstop and went 2-for-4 with a double in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to Atlanta.

Vargas got the start at short in place of Nick Ahmed, who has missed the last four games with a sore right shoulder, a bit of news that Arizona manager Torey Lovullo revealed Tuesday. In Ahmed's absence, Josh Rojas started three games prior to Vargas' start.

Machado went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs in a 6-5 loss to San Francisco on Tuesday.

Machado tagged San Francisco starter Kevin Gausman for solo homers in the first and third innings and tacked on a single in the fifth for his second three-hit game this month. The standout performance continues an excellent September for Machado, who's slashing .324/.370/.544 with six doubles and three home runs in 17 games.

Riley went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a strikeout in Atlanta's 6-1 victory over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Riley opened the game's scoring with a 424-foot drive to left in the top of the first to achieve the first 30-home-run campaign of his young career. The solid game continues a torrid stretch that's seen the 24-year-old go 10-for-27 with four doubles and a home run over his last six games.

Kieboom's absence from the lineup for Tuesday's game against Miami is due to a jammed thumb, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Kieboom is evidently not sitting due to the slump which has seen him hit .061/.205/.061 over his last nine games but is instead dealing with a minor injury. He'll be available off the bench, so he's unlikely to miss much more time. Jordy Mercer starts at third base.

Kieboom is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Kieboom has just two hits in his last nine games. He'll get a rest Tuesday, with Jordy Mercer taking over at third base.

Newman will not start Tuesday's game against the Reds.

Newman remains a regular despite the fact that he's hitting just .224/.261/.331 on the season. It will take quite a run over the final two weeks if he's to avoid finishing with an OPS south of .600 for the second straight season. Cole Tucker takes over at shortstop.

Moustakas will sit Tuesday against the Pirates.

Moustakas has occupied the large side of a platoon at third base since returning from a heel injury in early August, but his off day here comes against righty Mitch Keller. His .208/.282/.372 season slash line arguably doesn't deserve even a platoon role, though Eugenio Suarez, who starts at the hot corner in his absence, is hitting just .179/.268/.390.