MLB Player News

Marlins reserve infielder Jeff Baker will get his second start of the season and first at second base Saturday in San Francisco and will bat sixth, filling in for Dee Gordon, who’s out of the lineup (leg) for the second straight game. 

Gordon is dealing with a sore right leg muscle. He is expected to be back in the starting lineup for Sunday's game, according to MLB.com.

In 12 at-bats this season, Baker has three hits and one double.

Citing a sore right leg muscle, the Marlins kept second baseman Dee Gordon out of Friday's lineup, reports MLB.com.

"Precautionary to make sure it doesn't lead into something," general manager Dan Jennings said.

In his first 28 games, Gordon has amassed 52 hits. Second baseman Donovan Solano will start at second base and bat eighth.

The Marlins are the underdogs (+115) at San Francisco on Friday.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon continued his torrid start to the season, recording his fourth three-hit game in May on Thursday at San Francisco. He had two singles, one double, one run and one RBI.

Gordon, who is batting .437 through 28 games, has totaled 15 multihit games, including nine during a 12-game hitting streak. He is batting .560 (28 for 50) with one triple, two doubles, three RBI, five walks, eight runs and five stolen bases in his last 12 games.

Gordon is the first player since Rod Carew in 1983 to have as many as 52 hits through his first 28 games, according to The Miami Herald.

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed went 1 for 3 with two walks and two runs scored in his team's 13-7 win over the Rockies in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader.

Ahmed has had trouble finding offense early in the season, picking up just eight hits in 57 at-bats during April, but he was able to reach base safely multiple times Wednesday like almost everyone else in the Diamondbacks' lineup. Ahmed has hit .152/.253/.167 with four runs scored.

Denard Span and Ian Desmond had big games as the top two hitters in Washington's lineup helped their team win Wednesday. But their counterparts fron the Marlins performed even better in defeat.

Dee Gordon and Martin Prado both smacked three singles and scored a run. Gordon raised his average to a ridiculous .430 on the year, which leads both leagues. He has 49 hits in 27 games, putting him on pace for 294 this season.

Giants skipper Bruce Bochy is loving what he's getting from shortstop Brandon Crawford and second baseman Joe Panik, both in the field and at the plate. 

"It's fun to watch those two go, how they work together," Bochy said Tuesday, per MLB.com. "Craw is so gifted, and Joe Panik has made so much improvement defensively. They're so solid out there, offensively and defensively. They make the routine plays, and when you need a double play, they turn it as well as anybody."

The two continued their offensive prowess in Tuesday's victory over the Padres. Crawford, who was moved up to the fifth spot in the batting order, reached safely in all four of his plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. This was his third mult-hit performance in his last six games.

Panik, meanwhile, hit a solo home run, his second of the year, in the fifth inning. He went 1-for-4 on the evening. He has hit safely in four of his last five games.

"We have a great relationship," Panik said. "He makes my job easier -- just a great guy to play with. When you first get called up, a lot of emotions are running through you, the typical butterflies. The game tends to beat up on you. Then you look over at Brandon, and everything's fine.

Struggling Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings is set to sit Tuesday night in Colorado. Nick Ahmed will play his position.

Owings peaked at .241 in late April, but his average has fallen to .205, courtesy of a 3-for-25 slide.

Marlins infielder Dee Gordon went 20 for 31 on the nine-game homestand that ended on Sunday. His .645 average is the second highest in baseball history for a homestand that long.

Only Barry Bonds has ever had a better homestand. He went 13 for 19 (.684) over a 10-game stand in 2004. 

"Let's just be honest about it, I’m not going to be as good as Barry Bonds, ever," Gordon said, per the Miami Herald.

Seven of Gordon's eight games over the homestand were multi-hit games, including three 3-hit nights and a 4-hit outing. He scored five runs, drove in two and walked four times. 

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores is not in the lineup for a second straight day Sunday against the Nationals.

Flores has started 21 of his team's 25 games at the shortstop position, but Ruben Tejada will get the call for a second straight day. Tejada was 1 for 3 Saturday but is just 4 for 21 with three walks and two doubles on the season, while Flores has hit .240/.278/.387 with three home runs and eight RBI in 75 at-bats. Flores has also committed errors in three straight starts.

"We're hoping a couple of days refreshes him and gets him back on track," manager Terry Collins said Sunday morning, per ESPN New York.

The Mets are favorites (-110) against the Nationals Sunday.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon is not in the lineup for the first time this season Sunday, while third baseman Martin Prado is receiving his second day off in his team's matchup with the Phillies.

Gordon has led off all season, while Prado has been the team's No. 2 hitter for the last games with Christian Yelich out. With the pair on the bench. left fielder Ichiro Suzuki will lead off against the Phillies, while shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria will bat second.

The Marlins are also giving catcher J.T. Realmuto a break after starting the team's last eight games. Jhonatan Solano will draw the start behind the plate in his place.

The Marlins are heavy favorites (-185) Sunday.