MLB Player News

Escobar is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals, and manager Buck Showalter hinted after Tuesday's 5-1 loss that the 33-year-old will likely be deployed in a platoon at third base with Luis Guillorme moving forward, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The Mets signed Escobar to a two-year, $20 million contract this winter with the intention of having him play regularly against both right- and left-handing pitching, but the switch hitter has been far more successful versus southpaws this season. He's produced a .261/.293/.530 slash line (129 wRC+) in his 123 plate appearances against lefties, compared to a .199/.260/.328 line (71 wRC+) in 265 plate appearances against righties. Since the lefty-hitting Guillorme has made some strides as a hitter in 2022 and is a superior defender at third base, the Mets' decision to limit Escobar's opportunities versus righties thus doesn't come as a major surprise. Escobar will be sitting against a right-hander (Anibal Sanchez) for the fourth time in the last five matchups.

Farmer isn't starting Wednesday against Miami.

Farmer was hit by two pitches Tuesday against the Marlins, but it's not clear whether his absence from Wednesday's lineup is related. Jose Barrero is starting at shortstop and batting eighth after he was called up Wednesday.

Senzel isn't starting Wednesday against the Marlins.

Senzel started the last six games and hit .190 with two doubles, three runs and four strikeouts. Albert Almora will take his place in center field and bat seventh Wednesday.

Mead was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Durham on Wednesday due to a right elbow strain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mead hasn't appeared in a game since July 23, and he's apparently dealing with an elbow issue that's expected to keep him sidelined until at least mid-August. The 21-year-old has appeared in 72 games between the Double-A and Triple-A levels this year and has slashed .293/.387/.534 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, 42 runs and seven stolen bases.

Toro is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees.

With Adam Frazier moving back to second base Wednesday after getting three straight starts in the outfield, Toro's time in the lineup will come to an end. Toro's opportunities are likely to get more scarce in the days to come when the likes of Ty France (wrist), Julio Rodriguez (wrist) and Mitch Haniger (ankle) return from injuries.

Candelario isn't starting Wednesday against the Twins.

Candelario is resting after he went 0-for-10 with a run, a walk and five strikeouts over the last three games. Kody Clemens will start at the hot corner and bat eighth.

The Guardians recalled Freeman from Triple-A Columbus ahead of Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks. He'll start at third base and bat seventh in his MLB debut.

Cleveland optioned Ernie Clement to Columbus in a corresponding move, and Freeman is expected to take over Clement's role as the Guardians' top utility infielder. In Wednesday's series finale, Jose Ramirez is getting a day out of the field and handling the designated-hitter role, and he could find himself in a non-defensive role more frequently in the wake of Franmil Reyes being optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday. If that ends up being the case, Freeman could have a path to play regularly at the hot corner, but the 23-year-old will have to perform well to ensure he sticks in the everyday lineup. Over 343 plate appearances at Triple-A this season, Freeman turned in a .279/.371/.364 slash line with six home runs and six stolen bases.

McMahon went 4-for-8 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base across both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Padres.

The 27-year-old started both contests at the hot corner and collected two hits in each. McMahon has found another element to his game since the beginning of July -- in his last 27 games, he's slashing just .247/.340/.371 with two homers, seven RBI and nine runs, but he's also recorded all six of his steals on the season, tying the career high he set in 2021.

The Guardians plan to call up Freeman from Triple-A Columbus prior to Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Cleveland isn't be known to be dealing with any injuries to its infielders, so Freeman's promotion may just be a matter of the organization rewarding him for his hot hitting at Columbus of late. Though he owns a .735 OPS for the season at Triple-A, Freeman recorded hits in all but one of his last 15 starts while slashing .400/.478/.500 with two home runs, three stolen bases and a 6:5 BB:K over that stretch. Freeman, who has picked up starts at second base, third base and shortstop at Triple-A this season, could unseat Ernie Clement as Cleveland's top utility infielder.

Donaldson went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, a two-run home run and two total runs scored in Tuesday's 8-6 loss to Seattle.

Donaldson sent Anthony Rizzo home on a double in the fourth, then came around to score later that inning thanks to a Jose Trevino home run. Donaldson launched a two-run homer of his own in the sixth inning that scored Matt Carpenter and tied the game at 6-6. The third baseman is up to 10 homers on the year. Donaldson struggled in his last eight appearances in July, going 2-for-28, but he is 3-for-6 in two games to start August.