MLB Player News
-
Ryan McMahon 3B | COL
Rockies' Ryan McMahon: Power surge continues
McMahon went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run Sunday against the Phillies.
McMahon popped his 10th home run of the season in the first inning, and half of those long balls have come in his last 10 starts. In that span, he's scored 10 runs and driven in 11 while hitting .268. McMahon has also cut his strikeout rate to 24.9 percent across 225 plate appearances, down 3.5 percentage points from his career clip.
-
Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Return date uncertain
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Muncy is still feeling his oblique strain and will proceed cautiously, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Roberts had previously indicated that Muncy could start a rehab assignment soon with a potential return to the Dodgers coming next week, though he backed off on that statement Friday. The third baseman began doing some work in the field Tuesday, but Roberts indicated that Muncy won't progress to hitting off a tee until the team feels he's fully recovered. With that in mind, it seems unlikely that Muncy will be ready to return to the big club until at least early June.
-
Mark Vientos 3B | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: On bench again Sunday
Vientos is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Though Vientos had seemed to overtake Brett Baty as the Mets' preferred third baseman earlier in the week, he now finds himself on the bench for the second straight day versus a right-handed starting pitcher (Logan Webb). Since getting a call-up from Triple-A Syracuse on May 15, Vientos has posted a 1.134 OPS in seven games, but he still looks like he'll be part of a timeshare at the hot corner with Baty.
-
Joseph Ortiz 3B | MIL
Brewers' Joey Ortiz: Getting Sunday off
Ortiz is out of the lineup for Sunday's matchup against Boston.
Ortiz will get a breather after starting the last eight games at third base, going 9-for-29 with six RBI and one home run in that stretch. Fresh off getting called up from Triple-A Nashville, Oliver Dunn will get the start at third base and bat eighth in place of Ortiz.
-
Austin Riley 3B | ATL
Braves' Austin Riley: Absence continues as expected
Riley (side) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Riley likely won't return to action until Monday versus Washington, so it's no surprise the third baseman will sit for the 13th straight game due to an intercostal strain. Zack Short will receive another start at the hot corner in the series finale at Pittsburgh.
-
Oliver Dunn 3B | MIL
Brewers' Oliver Dunn: Back in majors
Milwaukee recalled Dunn from Triple-A Nashville on Sunday. He'll start at third base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
After being optioned to Nashville earlier in May, the 26-year-old infielder earned his way back to the majors after slashing .310/.394/.517 across eight games at Triple-A. Though he'll get the starting nod Sunday in his return to the big club, Dunn is still expected to play second fiddle to Joey Ortiz at third base and will likely function as more of a utility man.
-
Jeimer Candelario 3B | CIN
Reds' Jeimer Candelario: Still out Sunday
Candelario (neck) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Candelario will miss out on a second straight start due to neck stiffness, but he said he'll be available off the bench for the series finale, per Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Santiago Espinal will fill in at third base for Candelario.
-
Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B | PIT
Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Nearing next steps
Hayes (back) has been hitting on the field and will run the bases Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Assuming he feels well after Sunday's activity, Hayes will meet with manager Derek Shelton to determine his next steps. That would presumably either be activation from the injured list or a rebab assignment.
-
Santiago Espinal 3B | CIN
Reds' Santiago Espinal: Steps in at third
Espinal started at third base and went 1-for-3 in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Dodgers.
Espinal was a late addition to the lineup after Jeimer Candelario (neck) was scratched. The utility infielder is getting a relevant amount of plate appearances due to injuries and a player suspension. While his .195 average isn't attractive, Espinal has hit with regularity of late, going 9-for-33 (.273) with a double, a home run, three RBI, four walks, two steals and four runs scored over the last 11 games.
-
Brett Baty 3B | NYM
Mets' Brett Baty: Goes yard in Saturday's loss
Baty went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's 7-2 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
Getting the start at third base and batting eighth, Baty put the Mets ahead 2-1 by taking Sean Hjelle deep in the seventh inning, but Edwin Diaz and the bullpen melted down once again. Baty snapped a 14-game homer drought with the blast, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a .122/.182/.146 slash line with a 42.2 percent strikeout rate while seeing Mark Vientos move past him on the depth chart at third base. While Baty's long ball was encouraging, he also struck out twice more Saturday. Until he solves his contact issues, he'll have a hard time reclaiming the starting job at the hot corner.