MLB Player News

Mets infielder Ruben Tejada, starting at third base, had two more hits in Saturday's loss to the Marlins. Tejada went 2 for 4 with three RBI. He knocked a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning to tie the game at 5-5, though the Marlins went on to win 9-5.

Tejada now has five hits in his last four games, raising his batting average from .214 to .245 in that span. He should continue to get plenty of looks at third base while David Wright continues to recover from a back injury.

"Tejada is a solid player, and the last couple of days have shown what he can do," manager Terry Collins said, per MLB.com. "He has good at-bats, has great hands, got a great arm. There's no reason why he shouldn't be out there more."

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed had one hit in four at-bats on Friday against the Brewers. But was it ever a big hit. Ahmed launched a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning to break a 4-4 tie and give the Diamondbacks a lead they would hang on to, as they were victorious 7-5. It was Ahmed's third homer of the season.

The 25-year-old Ahmed has been hot at the plate. Over his last 10 games, he has 12 hits in 35 at-bats, including two home runs, two doubles and a triple. Despite the hot streak, however, Ahmed holds just a .214 season batting average.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon's bat is on fire, and it didn't cool down on Wednesday.

Gordon hit 3 for 4 in his team's 5-2 loss, but continued what is now a six-game hitting streak.

In his last six games, Gordon has nine hits and seven stolen bases in 28 at-bats.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford has provided the spark San Francisco needs in the lineup so far this season. Crawford's power numbers haven't been much different from his other seasons, manager Bruce Bochy said per MLB.com.

"When you look at a guy having success, that's usually the case," Bochy said. "You look at his history, he's always got out to a nice start."

Crawford has a a career high .382/.382/.514 slash line to begin the season and came into Monday's game 10 for his last 14 at the plate.

"That's why he was off yesterday, to give him some more rest so he stays strong," Bochy said before Monday's game.

Ender Inciarte is returning to the Diamondbacks' lineup on Sunday in the series-finale against the Cubs. 

Inciarte had a day off on Saturday. He's hit just .250 over his past four games. Inciarte will bat leadoff. 

Yasmany Tomas has the day off and infielder Aaron Hill will play third base. Catcher Jordan Pacheco is back in the lineup Chris Owings will play second base. 

Shorstop Brandon Crawford is sitting out of Sunday's series-finale against the Rockies. 

Crawford rested on Thursday and appears to be doing the same for this game as well. In his place at shortstop will be Joaquin Arias, who is penciled in to bat eighth. 

Buster Posey and Nori Aoki are in the lineup after playing one game of Saturday's doubleheader. 

Braves third baseman Alberto Callaspo is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game after four straight starts at the position. 

He's replaced by Pedro Ciriaco, who starts for the second time this season at the hot corner. 

Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki is not in the starting lineup on Sunday. 

Plawecki sits after four straight starts behind the plate. He's replaced by Anthony Recker, who gets his ninth start of the year. Recker will bat sixth. 

Third baseman Eric Campbell is also out of the lineup, after eight consecutive starts. He's replaced by Ruben Tejada, who will start at third for just the second time this year. He's hitting eighth. 

Mets infielder Ruben Tejada launched his first home run of the season in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Pirates. The home run was a solo shot in the eighth inning and was his first since the final day of the 2014 season. 

Tejada did not start the game on Saturday, but came in at shortstop as part of a double switch late in the game. 

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed was the unlikely hero on Friday night. But unlikely or not, Ahmed's single in the 13th inning gave the Diamondbacks a 5-4 win over the Cubs.

Ahmed, who entered the game batting .194, went 3 for 6 with a home run and two RBI.

''I made some improvements, made some adjustments,'' Ahmed said. ''I'm starting to put the bat on the ball, starting to see it a lot better. The coaches here have been awesome - (hitting coach) Turner Ward and (assistant hitting coach) Mark Grace, and even my teammates here, they just stick with me, stay behind me, keep instilling confidence in me even though I'm struggling. That helped a lot.''

Ahmed is hitting .212/.281/.260 with a home run and eight RBI in 104 at-bats this season.