MLB Player News

Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Vargas has now missed three consecutive starts for the Nationals after starting nearly every game in August. Jake Alu will start again at second base and Travis Blankenhorn will man left field.

LeMahieu went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-2 victory against Houston.

LeMahieu opened the new month in good form, swatting Justin Verlander's second pitch of the game over the right-field fence for a leadoff homer. The long ball continued LeMahieu's recent power surge -- he's gone deep six times over his past 10 contests after slugging just eight homers over his initial 104 games of the campaign. The veteran is now up to 14 home runs on the year, the most since he hit a career-high 26 long balls in his first season as a Yankee in 2019.

Gelof went 2-for-5 with a two-RBI double, another two-bagger and a run in a win over the Angels on Friday.

Gelof's fourth-inning two-bagger knocked in Esteury Ruiz and Jonah Bride to cap off a five-run outburst. The rookie pushed his RBI total to an impressive 23 with the timely double and also snapped a rare 1-for-18 slump that had encompassed his last five games. Gelof has demonstrated a welcome knack for clutch hitting early in his career, posting a .905 OPS across his first 43 plate appearances with men in scoring position.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that Jung (thumb) is two to three weeks away from returning to game action, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung, who had a plate and pins installed in his left thumb in early August, has started taking one-handed swings in the batting cage. Bochy said Jung will require rehab at-bats, so his return to game action would presumably start in the minors. That could push out his return to the majors to final week of the regular season.

Davis (hand) was scratched from the lineup Friday versus the Padres, Steven Rissotto of GGX News reports.

Davis is dealing with left hand soreness and he will get the night off Friday. Casey Schmitt will take over at third base and bat ninth against San Diego.

Arizona optioned Kennedy to Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Kennedy went 4-for-24 in 10 games after being selected from Reno in mid-August, and he'll now return to the minors in favor of Emmanuel Rivera. There remains a chance Kennedy can return to Arizona if he heats up again in the minors, but odds are he finishes the season in Triple-A.

The Diamondbacks recalled Rivera from Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Rivera was optioned to Reno on Aug. 12, and he has since slashed .304/.418/.609 with three homers and eight RBI across 55 plate appearances. He'll rejoin Arizona as rosters expand to 28 players and could split time at third base with Jace Peterson. Buddy Kennedy was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Peterson is not in the lineup Friday against the Orioles.

Evan Longoria will get the start at third base and hit fifth as left-hander Cole Irvin graces the bump for Baltimore. Peterson has batted just .167 with a .407 OPS in 55 plate appearances versus lefties this year.

Madrigal is not in the starting lineup for the second game of Friday's doubleheader with the Reds.

Madrigal will take a seat after he went 1-for-3 with a walk in Chicago's 6-2 victory during the matinee. Jeimer Candelario will slot in at third base while Christopher Morel handles designated hitter duties and bats ninth in the nightcap.

Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Vargas will take a seat for the second straight game Friday after being an everyday part of the Nats' lineup for most of August. Jake Alu will fill in at second base, allowing Travis Blankenhorn to start in left field.