MLB Player News

Cespedes is out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies, Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reports.

After punching their ticket to the playoffs with Saturday's win, the Mets will rest a few regulars in the season finale. Cespedes hits the bench for the first time since Sept. 5. He didn't have a major role in the playoff-clinching win, going 0-for-5 with a strikeout, but he turned in a tremendous first full season with the Mets. Unless he gets a pinch-hitting opportunity Sunday, he'll finish the campaign with a .280/.354/.530 batting line to go with 31 homers, 86 RBI and 72 runs.

Ozuna is out of the lineup for a second straight game Sunday against the Nationals, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Ozuna is one of many Marlins regulars getting days off at the end of the season. He will yield center field to Christian Yelich for Sunday's season finale, while Xavier Scruggs will enter the lineup in left field and bat sixth for the Marlins.

Stanton is out of the lineup for the team's season finale against the Nationals on Sunday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Stanton will have sat out each of the Marlins' final three games after returning earlier than expected from a groin issue. There's no indication the injury has resurfaced, but Destin Hood will man right field in his place.

Soler (side) will rejoin the lineup for the regular season finale Sunday against the Reds.

Soler had been sidelined for the past seven games because of the side injury, but he was expected to return to action Sunday. That's indeed the case, as he will man left field, pushing Kris Bryant back to third base and Javier Baez to the bench.

Buxton went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, a walk and three runs in Saturday's win over the White Sox.

After hitting just .193 with one homer in his first 63 games this year, Buxton's finishing the season strong by batting .277 with seven homers, 18 RBI and a .936 OPS in September. At just 22 years old, the former phenom still has time to significantly change from the struggle his first two years have been overall. He showed good isolated power this year (with eight homers in under 300 at-bats), but still needs to improve extremely low contact and walk rates, and a high strikeout rate. A promotion to the top part of the lineup would help Buxton's outlook next year -- perhaps he'll get that after his strong finish this year.

Ozuna is not in Saturday's lineup against the Nationals, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports.

Christian Yelich is the only regular outfielder in the lineup for the Marlins on Saturday, as Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton will make way for Destin Hood and Jeff Francoeur, respectively.

Stanton is not in Saturday's lineup against the Nationals, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports.

The Marlins will rest several regulars as they play out the string against the Nationals. Jeff Francoeur will start in right field and hit fifth. Stanton has now sat out two games in a row, and it would not come as a big surprise if he was also absent from Sunday's lineup as he is fairly banged up at this point in the season.

McCutchen is not in the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

McCutchen has cooled off a bit over the last week after putting together a strong start to September, and he has just two hits in his last 16 at-bats. After a 1-for-4 effort Friday, McCutchen will get the day off Saturday, as the Pirates go with Gregory Polanco in center.

Pederson is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

Pederson started Thursday against left-hander Christian Friedrich, but he will be held out Friday with a tougher southpaw -- Madison Bumgarner -- on the mound for the opponent. Enrique Hernandez will handle center field for the Dodgers on Friday night.

Soler (side) will likely return to action Sunday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Soler has started just one game since Sept. 16 due to the soreness in his side, but it appears he will be able to take the field once more before the regular season ends.