MLB Player News
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Christopher Morel 2B | TB
Cubs' Christopher Morel: Takes seat Sunday
Morel is not in the lineup Sunday against the Pirates.
Ian Happ, Mike Tauchman and Seiya Suzuki will start across the outfield as Cody Bellinger takes a turn as the Cubs' designated hitter. Morel hit a double Saturday at Pittsburgh but is slashing just .117/.209/.250 over his last 67 plate appearances dating back to Aug. 3. He now finds himself on the bench for the fourth time in five games and may be moving into more of a part-time role.
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Mark Vientos 3B | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Comes off injured list
The Mets activated Vientos (wrist) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll start at third base and bat eighth in the Mets' series finale with the Angels.
Vientos will be back in action Sunday after missing exactly 10 days due to left wrist tendinitis. The 24-year-old has posted a disappointing .195/.230/.288 batting line across 126 major-league plate appearances this season, but he should play regularly down the stretch as the Mets look ahead to 2024 and beyond.
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Luken Baker DH | STL
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Belts first big-league homer
Baker went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Saturday in a loss to the Phillies.
Baker produced St. Louis' lone run of the contest with his solo shot off Zack Wheeler in the third inning. It was the 26-year-old's first major-league long ball, and there may be many more to come if his 33 homers over 84 games in the minors this season is any indication. Baker has played sparingly during his two call-ups to the big club, though he could start to see more opportunities down the stretch with the Cardinals sitting 12 games out of an NL wild-card spot.
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Daniel Vogelbach DH | TOR
Mets' Daniel Vogelbach: Goes deep in loss
Vogelbach went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Angels on Saturday.
Vogelbach narrowed the Mets' deficit to two with his solo shot in the sixth inning, but that was the last run scored by either team in the contest. The veteran slugger has been a solid source of power of late, going deep five times over his past 13 games. He's added 12 RBI and seven runs while batting .278 (10-for-36) over that span.
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Mark Vientos 3B | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Expected back Sunday
Vientos (wrist) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Vientos played in a rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, and it's apparently the only one he will need. The rookie infielder has been out since mid-August with left wrist tendinitis. He had been seeing regular action at third base before the injury and should return to playing almost every day.
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Joc Pederson DH | ARI
Giants' Joc Pederson: Sits down against lefty
Pederson isn't in the Giants' lineup Saturday against Atlanta, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Pederson will retreat to the bench with left-handed starter Max Fried on the mound Saturday for Atlanta. Heliot Ramos will take over in left field in Pederson's absence, and Wilmer Flores will serve as San Francisco's DH.
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Mark Vientos 3B | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Begins rehab assignment
Vientos (wrist) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, MLB.com reports.
Vientos doubled, drew a walk and scored a pair of runs while playing 10 innings at third base in his first rehab game. He is eligible for activation Saturday and it sounds like his return to the Mets is imminent. Vientos has been out since mid-August with left wrist tendinitis.
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Christopher Morel 2B | TB
Cubs' Christopher Morel: Sits again Friday
Morel isn't in the Cubs' lineup Friday against Pittsburgh.
Friday marks the fourth time Morel has been held out of the lineup in the Cubs' last five games as he continues to slump at the plate. Jeimer Candelario will serve as Chicago's designated hitter in Morel's absence while Nick Madrigal starts at third base.
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Daniel Vogelbach DH | TOR
Mets' Daniel Vogelbach: Sits down against lefty
Vogelbach isn't in the Mets' lineup Friday against the Angels.
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval will draw the start Friday for the Angels, so the lefty-hitting Vogelbach will retreat to the bench to begin the game. DJ Stewart will take over as the Mets' designated hitter as Jeff McNeil shifts to right field and Danny Mendick mans second base.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Fills in for injured Votto
Encarnacion-Strand started at first base and went 0-for-4 in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Arizona.
Encarnacion-Strand slotted in at first base after the Reds placed Joey Votto (shoulder) on the injured list Thursday. The injury clears the way for Encarnacion-Strand to receive a steady dose of plate appearances, but he's struggled to make an impact in the majors so far, slashing .234/.306/.364 in August with a 35.3 percent strikeout rate.