MLB Player News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Martinez (hamstring) is in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Martinez made an appearance as a pinch hitter Friday and is now ready to return to DH duties after battling renewed left hamstring tightness throughout the week. It's a positive that he was able to avoid the injured list, but Martinez could always get additional maintenance down the stretch as the Dodgers prepare for the postseason. The 35-year-old is in the midst of a resurgent campaign with a .260/.311/.562 line and 25 homers in 86 games.

Martinez (hamstring) drove in a run on a bases-loaded walk in Friday's 10-5 win against the Padres.

Before Friday, Martinez hadn't appeared in a game since exiting early in Sunday's contest against the Reds due to left hamstring tightness. The veteran slugger was able to avoid a trip to the injured list and collected a walk with the bases full in the eighth inning Friday to notch an RBI, though he was immediately pulled for a pinch runner. Per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports, Martinez is expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday against San Diego.