MLB Player News

Arenado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Phillies.

Arenado has homered in each of his last two games. The third baseman's power numbers are still way down -- he's at five homers and a .379 slugging percentage through 53 contests -- but his recent stretch could be a sign of him heating up. On the year, he's batting .257 with 26 RBI, 22 runs scored, 10 doubles and no stolen bases over 226 plate appearances. Not counting the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Arenado hasn't hit less than 26 home runs since 2014, but he needs to get going to hit that mark this season.

LeMahieu is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

After being reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, LeMahieu played three straight games against the Angels, going 2-for-9 with three runs and three walks. He'll begin Friday's contest in the dugout as Oswaldo Cabrera gets the start at third base and bats eighth against Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks.

Westburg (hand) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Rays, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The 24-year-old will miss a second straight game after being hit by a pitch on the right hand Tuesday against the Red Sox. Westburg had X-rays come back negative and should be considered day-to-day. Ramon Urias is starting at the hot corner Friday for Baltimore.

Vientos is expected to serve as the Mets' everyday third baseman after the club optioned Brett Baty to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Baty had started at third base in four of the Mets' previous five matchups versus right-handed pitchers, but the 24-year-old was unable to break out of his extended slump at the plate. He ends his time on the Mets' 26-man active roster having hit just .132 over his last 15 games, leaving Vientos as the big club's top option at the hot corner against both right- and left-handed pitching. Though he's an inferior defender compared to Baty, Vientos has been the far more effective hitter of the two at the big-league level this season, posting a .945 OPS over 48 plate appearances for the Mets. With Baty at least temporarily removed from the mix and a path to regular at-bats having been cleared up, Vientos makes for a worthy pickup for fantasy managers seeking an infusion of power.

The Mets optioned Baty to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Baty is slashing just .225/.304/.325 this season and has struck out at 34.7 percent clip in May. With the emergence of Mark Vientos (.295/.354/.591), the Mets have elected to send Baty back to the minors in hopes of getting his swing right. Vientos will take over as the club's everyday third baseman.

Paredes went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk Thursday against the Athletics.

Paredes tallied his 10th homer of the season and third in May, and he's hitting .301 with 15 RBI and 10 runs scored across 24 contests on the month. Paredes remains locked into either the third or fourth spot in the Rays' order, giving him plenty of opportunities to rack up counting stats.

Toro went 3-for-5 with an RBI single, a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run in an extra-innings loss to the Rays on Thursday.

Toro wreaked havoc during the 12-inning contest, putting together his third multi-hit effort in the last four games. The 27-year-old also ripped a two-bagger for the second straight game, and his clutch RBI single in the 10th snapped a 4-4 tie at the time. Toro has found a home in the leadoff spot, logging a .277 batting average, 11 extra-base hits, three steals and 19 runs in 156 plate appearances from the top of the order.

The White Sox recalled Sosa from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

It's the corresponding move for the demotion of Bryan Ramos, who was optioned Thursday. Sosa has struggled mightily during his time in the majors over the last three seasons, slashing just .177/.200/.304 in 75 games. Theoretically, there is playing time available on the White Sox infield, but there's no indication that Sosa will see much of it.

Bregman went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, an additional run and a triple in Thursday's 4-0 win against Seattle.

Bregman broke a scoreless tie with his two-run blast in the fourth inning and came around to score Houston's final run following a triple in the sixth. It was the third multi-hit effort for the third baseman across his past five games, and he's batting .350 (7-for-20) with a pair of homers and four RBI over that stretch. Bregman could finally be getting his bat going following a rough start to the season that has his slash line still at a meager .218/.280/.360.

Senzel (knee) will start at third base and bat sixth in Thursday's game against Atlanta.

Senzel eventually had to depart Wednesday's contest versus Atlanta after fouling a ball off his right knee in the second inning, but he's back in there the following day. The 28-year-old has experienced a power outage in May, going homerless in 22 games after he hit five in just 12 contests during April.