MLB Player News

Maton isn't in the Tigers' lineup Friday.

With the left-handed Sean Manaea starting on the mound for San Francisco, Maton will begin the game on the bench. Tyler Nevin will start in his place at the hot corner and bat second.

Moncada was placed on the 10-day injured list by the White Sox on Friday, retroactive to April 11, with lower-back soreness.

Moncada's recovery had been coming along more slowly than anticipated and the team decided to go ahead and make an IL move. He'll be eligible to return April 21 and would seem to have a decent chance to be back at that time. Jake Burger and Hanser Alberto will probably get the first crack to fill in at third base, with Lenyn Sosa and Romy Gonzalez also potentially in the mix.

Moncada (back) no longer is expected back Friday and could instead require a stint on the injured list, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

A trip to the IL looks to be just a possibility, but even if the White Sox aren't ready to make that move yet, Moncada doesn't appear ready to play. The third baseman has been on the shelf all week with a back issue that is coming along slowly. Chicago has been using Hanser Alberto and Jake Burger at the hot corner during Moncada's absence.

Baty could replace Eduardo Escobar as the Mets' starting third baseman very soon if the veteran doesn't emerge from his early season slump, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

After nearly winning a spot on the big-league roster this spring, Baty has kept the pressure on by going 12-for-31 (.387) to begin the year with four homers, 10 RBI and a 6:9 BB:K through eight games with Triple-A Syracuse. Escobar, meanwhile, is batting .103 (4-for-39) with a 2:11 BB:K and an average exit velocity in the fifth percentile. The Mets will give Escobar a little more time to turn things around at the plate, but if he doesn't begin producing soon, Baty is likely to get his chance.

Escobar could be running out of time to solidify his hold on the starting third base job for the Mets, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The veteran is batting just .103 (4-for-39) with one homer in 12 games to begin the season, and more discouragingly, that lack of base hits comes with a 2:11 BB:K and an average exit velocity in the bottom five percent of the league as well as a 12th percentile hard-hit rate. The Mets also have an alternative ready at hand in top prospect Brett Baty, who is off to a scorching start at Triple-A. Escobar still has time to shake off his early season slump, but with the team off to a 7-6 start that's fallen a bit short of expectations, meaning a switch at the hot corner could be on the table.

Machado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in an extra-inning loss to the Brewers on Thursday.

Machado entered Thursday batting a mediocre .250, and he had yet to go deep over his first 56 plate appearances in 2023. The star third baseman finally got off the schneid with a first-inning solo homer. Machado's start to the season has been disappointing, but chances are that he'll get in a groove eventually given that he averaged 30 homers and 104 RBI over his past two campaigns.

Chapman (illness) is hoping to return to the lineup Friday against the Rays, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Chapman was scratched from Thursday's loss against the Tigers due to an illness. After the game, manager John Schneider said he hopes Chapman can return to the lineup Friday. That leaves his status relatively unclear, though it's encouraging the third baseman wasn't immediately ruled out for an additional contest.

Chapman was removed from Thursday's lineup against the Tigers due to an illness.

Chapman's illness will put Santiago Espinal in to start at third base and bat eighth Thursday. Chapman should be considered day-to-day heading into Friday's matchup with the Rays.

Hayes is batting leadoff Thursday at St. Louis.

Hayes is slashing just .149/.184/.213 through 49 plate appearances this season, but he'll look to get it going Thursday against the Cardinals and left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Ji Hwan Bae is hitting eighth.

Vosler isn't in the Reds' lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Vosler will take a seat with lefty Bailey Falter slated to start on the mound for Philadelphia. Tyler Stephenson will shift to first base in place of Vosler, giving Curt Casali a chance to start behind the dish and bat eighth.