MLB Player News

Sosa (back) is starting at third base and batting ninth Friday against the Rockies.

Sosa missed five straight games due to a lower back injury, but he managed to avoid the IL and returns Friday with a shiny .344/.353/.625 slash line in 34 plate appearances on the year. He should see regular action at the hot corner with Alec Bohm needed at first base.

Chapman will move up to the cleanup spot for the Blue Jays in Friday's game versus the Yankees, Ben Wagner of Sportsnetreports.

Chapman has been in the cleanup spot some against lefties this season but mostly has batted fifth versus righties. He'll flip-flop with Daulton Varsho on Friday, though, with the Yanks throwing righty Domingo German. Chapman is sporting a blistering .397/.461/.750 slash line with five home runs and 17 RBI.

Madrigal is starting at third base and batting ninth for the Cubs in Friday's game versus the Dodgers.

The Cubs are going with a right-handed heavy lineup against southpaw Julio Urias. Madrigal is off to a solid start at the plate this season as he sees the occasional start at third and second base, sporting a .323/.364/.387 slash line.

Escobar went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Thursday's win over the Giants.

He took southpaw Sean Manaea deep for his second long ball of the year as part of a five-run fourth inning for the Mets that put the game out of reach. Escobar is stuck on the short side of a platoon right now while New York gives prospect Brett Baty a long look at the hot corner, but the veteran could yet win back the starting job at third base if he gets going at the plate and the rookie struggles. Over his last four games, Escobar's gone 4-for-16 with a double and a homer, and Thursday's multi-hit performance was his first of the season.

Muncy went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a stolen base and two walks in Thursday's 6-2 victory versus the Cubs.

Muncy gave the Dodgers an early lead with a second-inning solo shot to right-center field. The slugger got off to a slow start this season, slashing .121/.293/.212 with 16 strikeouts through his first nine contests. However, he's turned a corner since then, going 11-for-28 (.393) with seven long balls, 14 RBI and a 10:8 K:BB across his subsequent 10 games. The hot stretch has pushed Muncy's homer total to nine on the season, tied for second-most in MLB.

The Yankees returned Donaldson (hamstring) from his rehab assignment Thursday.

Though this move ends Donaldson's current rehab assignment, it won't result in him being activated from the injured list. The veteran third baseman suffered a setback in a minor-league contest while trying to work his way back from a right hamstring strain, and he's awaiting the results of a subsequent MRI. It's not yet clear how much additional time Donaldson will miss as a result of the setback.

Farmer, who had surgery to reset four of his bottom teeth and suture lacerations on his lip after getting hit by a pitch, was at Target Field on Thursday getting a workout in, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Farmer did not suffer a fractured jaw or a concussion and did not need his jaw wired shut after getting struck in the face by a Lucas Giolito pitch last week, so he may be able to return sooner than first expected. There's no timetable for his return, but it sounds like he's making progress.

Baty isn't starting Thursday against the Giants.

Baty will take a seat Thursday with left-hander Sean Manaea set to start the game for San Francisco. Eduardo Escobar will man the hot corner for the Mets and bat seventh.

McMahon is making a third straight start at third base Thursday against the Phillies.

Colorado seems underwhelmed by the early defensive play of Elehuris Montero, who is serving as the designated hitter Thursday. McMahon could continue to get more looks at his old position, with Alan Trejo benefitting from an uptick in starts at second base.

Sosa (back) remains out of the lineup Thursday versus the Rockies.

It's the fifth straight absence for Sosa, who tweaked his lower back last weekend. He was scheduled to visit with a specialist Wednesday in Chicago. Josh Harrison is playing third base and batting ninth Thursday against Colorado, with Alec Bohm covering first base and hitting seventh.