MLB Player News

Pederson went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Nationals.

Pederson snapped a month-long homer drought with his game-tying blast in the third inning, but the Giants were limited to just two hits over the rest of the contest. During his 23-game power drought, Pederson his just .167 with two doubles and a triple. The 31-year-old remains in a strong-side platoon role while primarily serving as the designated hitter. He's hitting .233 with a .781 OPS, nine homers, 34 RBI and 37 runs scored over 63 contests this season.

Choi went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 8-5 loss to the Angels.

Choi has homered three times in his last seven games while going 6-for-19 (.316) in that span. The warm bat has helped Choi remain in the mix for playing time between first base and designated hitter. Carlos Santana and Andrew McCutchen are also involved in that playing time battle with two spots available for the three players. Choi is at a .186/.210/.475 slash line with five homers, nine RBI, seven runs scored and two doubles over 62 plate appearances this season.

McCutchen is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Angels, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

McCutchen will sit for a second straight game Friday after he went 2-for-8 with a double and a strikeout over the first two games of the team's series with Cleveland. Ji-Man Choi will take over at designated hitter and bat cleanup in the series opener with Los Angeles.

Harper is making his first professional start at first base Friday as the Phillies take on the Guardians, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper has been working out at first base for a while now and is finally ready to try his luck at the position in a game setting. If he proves capable of handling first base regularly, it opens up designated hitter for Kyle Schwarber and allows the Phillies to improve their defense in left field.

Vogelbach is in the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Vogelbach was not in the lineup originally submitted by the Mets but is part of the revised one. He will be at designated hitter and batting fifth against Kutter Crawford.

Vogelbach is out of the lineup again for Friday's tilt against the Red Sox, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Vogelbach has now been on the bench for three of the last four games even with the Mets facing righties in those contests. DJ Stewart will be in the designated hitter spot Friday.

The Mets recalled Vientos from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

With Starling Marte (head) headed for the injured list Thursday, Vientos will come up from Triple-A to fill Marte's roster spot. Vientos holds a 1.000 OPS in Syracuse but is slashing just .173/.244/.259 across 90 plate appearances in the majors throughout his career.

Vogelbach is out of the lineup Thursday versus the White Sox.

Francisco Alvarez will take a turn as the Mets' designated hitter after Vogelbach went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk in that role Wednesday. The 30-year-old Vogelbach holds an underwhelming .682 OPS in 207 total plate appearances this season with New York.

Morel (neck) went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Nationals.

Morel sat out Tuesday due to neck tightness. This was his first multi-walk game since June 4 -- the 24-year-old is walking at a 7.8 percent rate while striking out at a 30.1 percent clip this season. Despite those lopsided marks, he's maintained a .273/.330/.551 slash line with 15 home runs, 41 RBI, 38 runs scored and two stolen bases through 54 contests overall. He's played primarily at second base lately, but he could move to third base once Dansby Swanson (heel) returns.

Morel (neck) is back in the lineup Wednesday against the Nationals.

Morel was scratched from the Cubs' lineup Tuesday due to neck tightness, but it has proven to be a minor issue. He will start at second base and bat sixth Wednesday versus the Nats and right-hander Trevor Williams.