MLB Player News

  • Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Snaps homer drought

    Encarnacion-Strand batted cleanup and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Monday's 5-2 win over the Marlins.

    Encarnacion-Strand homered to lead off the fourth inning, providing what turned out to be the winning run. The blast snapped a 17-game homer-less drought. He's hit safely in six of the last eight contests, going 9-for-29 (.310) with two doubles, one homer, four RBI and four runs.

  • Joc Pederson DH | ARI

    Giants' Joc Pederson: Takes seat against lefty

    Pederson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.

    Pederson will join fellow left-handed hitters Brandon Crawford and LaMonte Wade on the bench while the Giants stock up on some extra right-handed bats to counter Angels southpaw Patrick Sandoval. Austin Slater will check in for Pederson in left field and bat leadoff.

  • Mark Vientos 3B | NYM

    Mets' Mark Vientos: Clear runway at third base

    Vientos is expected to serve as the Mets' everyday third baseman after Brett Baty was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

    Though he's serving as the Mets' designated hitter and No. 5 batter Monday against Cubs southpaw Drew Smyly, Vientos looks poised to see the bulk of the starts at third base versus right-handed pitching while Daniel Vogelbach handles DH duties for those matchups. Known more for his prowess with the bat while he was coming up the Mets' farm system, Vientos may not have the defensive chops to stick at third base in the long term, but the non-contending Mets will at least use the next few weeks as a test run to see if he can hold his own at the position.

  • Ji-Man Choi 1B | NYM

    Padres' Ji-Man Choi: Starting again at first base

    Choi is starting at first base and batting seventh in Monday's contest versus the Dodgers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

    Manny Machado is getting another designated hitter day as he nurses a tight hamstring, so Ha-Seong Kim slides to third base, Jake Cronenworth plays second base Choi handles first. It's the fourth straight start for Choi, who served as the Padres' DH in the other two contests.

  • J.D. Martinez DH | NYM

    Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Resting Monday, as expected

    Martinez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres.

    Just as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had suggested over the weekend would be the case, Martinez will get a breather for the series finale in San Diego after he recently overcame a hamstring injury. With Martinez resting, the Dodgers will be able to ease third baseman Max Muncy back in Monday as their designated hitter after Muncy had missed the first three games of the series due to a bruised wrist.

  • Matt Carpenter DH | STL

    Padres' Matt Carpenter: Seeing scarce playing time

    Carpenter hasn't seen any game action for the Padres since July 24, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

    As Acee points out, Carpenter is the only player in the majors to have been on an active roster continuously since July 25 to have not appeared in a game during that time. The 37-year-old is batting just .166/.296/.302 on the season, and it may only be a matter of time that he loses his spot on the Padres roster. Carpenter is making $6.5 million in 2023 and holds a $5.5 million player option for 2024.

  • Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Resting Sunday

    McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

    McCutchen will be resting for the second time this weekend while the Pirates and Brewers wrap up their four-game set with a day game after a night game. Connor Joe will get the starting nod at designated hitter in place of McCutchen, who is hitting .220 with no home runs and one stolen base in 15 games since the All-Star break.

  • Mark Vientos 3B | NYM

    Mets' Mark Vientos: Staking claim to everyday role

    Vientos will start at third base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Orioles.

    Vientos will stick in the starting nine for the fifth time in six games and is slashing .257/.289/.429 in 11 games overall since he was called up from Triple-A Syracuse on July 20. With the 50-60 Mets effectively removing themselves from the National League wild-card race, the 23-year-old Vientos will likely to continue to poach work from the 30-year-old Daniel Vogelbach as the organization prioritizes the development of some of its younger players.

  • Mets' Daniel Vogelbach: Moves into reserve role

    Vogelbach is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

    Vogelbach has now hit the bench five times in the last six games, with four of those absences from the lineup coming against right-handed pitching. The 30-year-old appears to have moved into a reserve role while the non-contending Mets look to open up more playing time for rookie Mark Vientos.

  • J.D. Martinez DH | NYM

    Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Will likely sit Monday

    Martinez is not expected to be in the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

    Martinez started Saturday's game and is set to do the same Sunday, but he missed time recently with a hamstring injury, and the Dodgers appear content to ease him back into action -- particularly with Monday's contest being played in the afternoon. Once Monday rolls around, the team will formally announce whether or not Martinez will be included in the starting nine.

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