MLB Player News

Busch went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Phillies.

Busch has been off to a slow start to the season, as Wednesday's home run was his first of the year, and he's only batting .188 with a .525 OPS. Busch's struggles combined with the strong play of Nico Hoerner has allowed the latter to take over as Chicago's primary leadoff hitter. Busch can still produce from lower in the lineup, but the first baseman will need to keep producing like he did Wednesday to avoid hitting the bench on a more regular basis, particularly against lefties.

Bregman went 3-for-5 with a triple and a run scored in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Phillies.

Bregman recorded his third three-hit game of the season and also tallied his first triple since 2024 in a productive performance Wednesday. The veteran third baseman is starting to get going after a slow start to his first campaign with the Cubs. Bregman was hitting just .188 through his first 12 games of the year, but his season average is now up to .263 after batting .333 over his last 12 contests.

Freeman (illness) will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup in Wednesday's contest versus the Padres.

Freeman was removed from Monday's game due to an illness and didn't play Tuesday, but he'll give it a go Wednesday. The 26-year-old is slashing .294/.385/.294 with a pair of stolen bases over his first 40 plate appearances this season.

Baty is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

Though he had been included in the lineup in each of the Mets' last six games while the team went up against right-handed starting pitchers, the left-handed-hitting Baty will take a seat while southpaw Connor Prielipp toes the rubber for Minnesota. With Juan Soto (calf) making his return from the injured list Wednesday, the Mets may only have one spot available in the lineup moving forward for either Baty and Carson Benge when the team faces right-handers. Both players have struggled to produce at the plate through the first four weeks of the season, with Baty owning a .498 OPS and Benge generating a .416 OPS.

Hayes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Hayes will hit the bench after going 2-for-12 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run while starting in the Reds' last four games. Eugenio Suarez will replace Hayes at third base in the series finale.

Pauley is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

The left-handed-hitting Pauley often sits versus southpaws, but he'll be heading to the bench Wednesday while right-hander Kyle Leahy starts for the Cardinals. Though Javier Sanoja will fill in at third base in the series finale, Pauley could face a greater threat from Connor Norby for reps at the hot corner once Christopher Morel (oblique) returns from the injured list. Morel had been in line to serve as the Marlins' primary first baseman before straining his oblique prior to Opening Day, but Norby has been handling those duties through the first four weeks of the season and has produced a .738 OPS. Pauley, meanwhile, has struggled to a .492 OPS and has struck out at a 27.3 percent clip over 55 plate appearances.

Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday's 11-5 loss to the White Sox.

Vargas connected on a sinker that didn't sink for a three-run home run in the ninth inning. It was his third homer of the season and extended a season-opening hit streak to 16 games. Batting .361 with a 1.004 OPS, Vargas is punching well above his weight; the utility infielder owns a career average of .254 and OPS of .664.

Freeman (illness) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Padres.

Freeman was forced to depart Monday's contest against the Dodgers due to illness. He's considered day-to-day. It will be Jordan Beck and Mickey Moniak holding down the corner-outfield spots for the Rockies on Tuesday.

Muncy went 4-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs, two additional runs scored and a walk in a 12-3 win against the Rockies on Monday.

Muncy put the Dodgers on the board with a second-inning solo shot and added another in the ninth. The four-hit performance capped a four-game series against the Rockies during which Muncy went 10-for-17 with four long balls and five RBI. The veteran slugger already has three multi-homer games on the campaign and is tied for third in MLB with eight total home runs through 21 contests.

Freeman left Monday's game against the Dodgers due to illness, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

This may actually be a positive development for Freeman, who was suspected of exiting with a back issue that's been plaguing him for the first month of the 2026 season. He can be considered day-to-day moving forward.