MLB Player News

Carpenter is not in the starting lineup versus the Rays on Friday.

Carpenter will get another day off Friday with southpaw Shane McClanahan on the hill for Tampa Bay. Nelson Cruz will handle the DH spot and hit seventh with Carpenter on the bench.

Morel went 3-for-5 with a two-run double, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 10-3 victory over the Orioles.

Morel extended his hit streak to six games Friday, including back-to-back three-hit performances, and has totaled three home runs, a double, a triple and 11 RBI during that stretch. The soon-to-be 24-year-old burst onto the scene after being called up May 9, recording nine home runs and 15 RBI over his first 15 games, but he went ice cold after that, notching just one hit over his next 10 appearances (28 at-bats). Morel appears to be back on track and is on pace to shatter his rookie totals from last year (16 home runs and 47 RBI across 113 games).

Winker (neck) will be activated from the 10-day injured list over the weekend, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Winker landed on the injured list at the end of May and has been on a rehab assignment since June 7. Despite having a rough season with the Brewers so far, Winker has been raking in the minors, slashing .350/.500/.800 over 26 plate appearances. Once activated he will presumably return as the Brewers' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching.

Vientos is absent from the lineup for Friday's tilt versus the Cardinals.

Mark Canha is playing first base and Daniel Vogelbach is at designated hitter for the series opener against St. Louis. Vientos has just a .469 OPS in 16 games with the big club this season.

Vogelbach is starting at designated hitter and batting seventh on Friday against the Cardinals.

Vogelbach hasn't played for a week, as the Mets wanted to give him time to work on his swing. The 30-year-old will carry a .203/.343/.297 line into play Friday and will surely need to start producing at the plate if he wants to keep his roster spot.

Morel went 3-for-3 with a triple, a run scored and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Pirates.

Morel continues to roll along, as he now has hits in five straight games and a robust 1.016 OPS for the season. The 23-year-old's absurd home run pace has predictably slowed down, however. He has two long balls in his last 15 games after going deep nine times in his first 12 contests of the year.

Encarnacion-Strand started in right field for Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Encarnacion-Strand looks to be next in line among Cincinnati's prospects to be called up, though he's blocked at first base by Spencer Steer and potentially Joey Votto (shoulder). The Reds have comparatively struggled to get production from their corner outfield positions, as Stuart Fairchild has regularly started in left field of late while a combination of Will Benson and T.J. Hopkins have started in right. It's unclear if Encarnacion-Strand will prove trustworthy enough with the glove to stick in the outfield, but it's potentially one more path for him to reach the majors.

Martinez is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the White Sox.

Martinez has gone 0-for-12 with eight strikeouts and one walk over his last three games, though he still holds a shiny .894 OPS on the year. Jason Heyward is serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter Thursday and batting cleanup.

Meneses is out of the lineup Thursday against the Astros.

Meneses will grab some physical and mental rest after going 0-for-8 with three strikeouts in the first two games of the Nationals' three-game set in Houston. Corey Dickerson is taking a DH day Thursday with Stone Garrett covering left field.

Carpenter is out of the lineup Thursday versus the Guardians.

Nelson Cruz is filling the DH role for the Padres and batting sixth with left-hander Logan Allen on the bump for Cleveland. Gary Sanchez is also on the bench.