MLB Player News

Cespedes (hip) is expected to be reinstated from the 10-day DL prior to Friday's game against the Yankees, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

If he does return for the second-half opener, it's anticipated that Cespedes will serve as the club's DH with the series being held in the Bronx. Cespedes has played in a pair of minor-league games over the past couple days, which included the outfielder lifting a home run while manning first base for High-A St. Lucie on Wednesday.

Cespedes (hip) played nine innings at first base in a rehab game Wednesday for High-A St. Lucie and went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run.

Cespedes has now played three games -- one simulated game and two minor-league rehab contests -- over the last three days, which suggests he'll be ready to return from the 10-day disabled list for the Mets' first game out of the All-Star break Friday against the Yankees. It's expected that Cespedes will be deployed as the Mets' designated hitter during the three-game series in the Bronx before likely returning to the field on a full-time basis next week. Due to the emergence of Brandon Nimmo this season, the Mets boast a crowded outfield, so Cespedes may end up seeing occasional work at first base for the first time in his MLB career as the team looks to roll out its strongest overall lineup.

Winker should start every day in right field with Scott Schebler hitting the DL, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports.

Winker has forced himself into the lineup frequently with a hot bat anyhow, but this takes the guesswork out of it. Over the last 30 games, Winker has hit .357/.476/.560 with four homers. He won't provide any speed, but he's one of three elite OBP sources in an improved Reds lineup.

Cespedes (hip) will start at first base during his minor-league rehab contest Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Cespedes took some grounders at first base last week, but manager Mickey Callaway vehemently stated the veteran will be utilized as an outfielder upon his return to the Mets. During Tuesday's rehab game with the GCL Mets, Cespedes played seven innings in left field and has yet to spend actual game time at first base over the course of his professional career, so seeing him at the position with the Mets remains a long shot at the present moment.

Cespedes (hip) played seven innings in left field in his first rehab game for the GCL Mets on Tuesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Cespedes has been out for over two months with a hip issue. His rehab assignment could be short, as he has a good chance to return Friday for the Mets' first series after the All-Star break. That series is against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium, meaning he could be eased back into major-league action as the team's designated hitter.

Cespedes (hip) played five innings in left field and went 3-for-7 with two home runs and a walk during a simulated game Monday at the Mets' spring training facility, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.

Receiving his first game action in nearly a month, Cespedes showed limited rust and didn't report issues with the strained right hip flexor that has slowed him for much of the season. Assuming he feels fine after checking in with team trainers Tuesday, Cespedes could move his rehab to a minor-league affiliate by mid-week in preparation for a return from the 10-day disabled list in the Mets' first game of the second half Friday against the Yankees. With the designated hitter available at Yankee Stadium, the Mets would have the luxury of easing Cespedes back into action rather than having him play nine innings in the outfield right away.

Brantley went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Sunday in the Indians' 5-2 win over the Yankees.

Brantley provided the Indians with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning when he took ace reliever Chad Green deep for his 12th long ball of the season. The outfielder came out of the gates hot at the plate when he was activated from the disabled list in early April and has yet to see his pace slow. The 31-year-old has hit above .310 in three of the four months of the season thus far and has already delivered his best fantasy campaign since his peak years of 2014 and 2015.

Stanton went 2-for-4 with a stolen base Sunday in the Yankees' 5-2 loss to the Indians.

Stanton's strikeout percentage (31.2%) and walk percentage (8.6%) are his worst marks since his rookie season in 2010, but the downturn in plate discipline hasn't had many negative consequences for his fantasy output. Thanks to a career-high .360 BABIP fueled by a magnificent 42.4 percent hard-hit rate, Stanton has maintained a .278 batting average to go with his typical top-shelf power production (23 home runs). The 28-year-old has been running especially hot in July, slashing .349/.388/.587 through 15 games on the month.

Canha went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run in a win over the Giants on Sunday.

The 29-year-old heads into the All-Star break on a hot streak at the plate, having hit safely in five of the last six games. Canha has also delivered a clutch pinch-hit home run and driven in four runs overall during that span, putting a fitting cap on an impressive first half. Factoring in Sunday's production, he's slashing .261/.338/.465 with 26 extra-base hits (14 doubles, 12 home runs) and 38 RBI. All three components of his line are career bests, and Canha is now just four homers away from equaling the career-best 16 he slugged in 210 additional plate appearances in his rookie 2015 campaign.

Carpenter went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a win over the Reds on Sunday.

Carpenter led off the bottom of the first with his 19th homer, which served as his second in as many games. The 32-year-old heads into the All-Star break having reached safely in six consecutive games, the latest example of the dramatic turnaround to his season. Carpenter was slashing .199/.320/.370 as recently as May 23, but he'll enter the second half of the season with a .263/.373/.530 line that includes 47 extra-base hits (28 doubles, 19 homers) and 43 RBI.