MLB Player News

Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon wasn't in the starting lineup Sunday against the Cubs for the first time since July 5. It was just the seventh time since April 24 he was not in the starting lineup.

"It wasn't really planned," manager Don Mattingly said of the day off, per MLB.com. "I was kind of trying to wait for a lefty. Different coaches were coming to me like, 'It looks like Dee needs a day.' Just, I think, leg-wise and things like that.

"I think Dee's at the point where he wants to play every day, and he's kind of probably a little bit nervous about saying he needs a day. We understand that. I think that's where coaches are important, the guys who are dealing with him every day, seeing him every day, maybe he has a little more confidence in saying that one little word that tells you, 'Yeah, I need a day.' We'll be careful with him. We'll see where is. He's pretty young. I think he'll keep up the pace."

Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers has announced that the deal that shipped Martin Prado to the Yankees has Jordan Pacheco and Cliff Pennington set to platoon at third base.

Pacheco will handle the duties until Pennington returns from a thumb injury. He owns a .259/.312/.376 stat line and has yet to go deep this season.

The Nationals have sent infielder Zach Walters to the Indians in exchange for shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, according to numerous media reports Thursday.

Walters, 24, is hitting .205/.279/.462 in 39 at-bats for the Nationals this season, but was hitting .300/.358/.608 in 60 games at Triple-A Syracuse prior to being called up. 

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada returned to the starting lineup during Wednesday's 11-2 win against the Phillies, and for one day at least quieted the speculation he might get supplanted at shortstop by Wilmer Flores.

Tejada went 3 for 4 with one run, one RBI and one walk in the win. He entered the game mired in a 4-for-38 slump in his previous 14 games.

Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings still hasn't taken live batting practice, according to MLB.com.

Owings has been sidelined since June 25 with a shoulder injury. He's been slow to recover. There's currently no timetable for his return. Owings was hitting .277/.313/.458 over 238 at-bats.

Diamondbacks infielder Cliff Pennington (thumb) began a rehab assignment with the team's Arizona League (rookie) affiliate Saturday. He went 1 for 4 with one walk.

Dodgers infielder Dee Gordon put together a strong performance Friday, as he sparked the offense in an 8-1 win over the Giants.

Gordon went 3 for 5 with two runs scored from the top of the lineup. He added a triple and an RBI, along with a stolen base in the win.

Gordon is hitting the ball well since the All-Star break, raising his season average from .292 to .298 in that span. He is hitting .367 with four multi-hit games in his last seven.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada is in the starting lineup Friday against the Brewers, as expected Friday.

Tejada sat out Thursday's game when he was hit in the head by a pitch. He felt well enough to play Thursday, but manager Terry Collins said he was held out as a precaution.

The Nationals recalled infielder Zach Walters from Triple-A Syracuse Wednesday, and are putting him in the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.

According to the Washington Post, Walters is likely to see a majority of the playing time at second base against right-handed pitchers as part of a platoon with Danny Espinosa. Walters hit 12 of his 15 home runs in Triple-A from the left side of the plate.  

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada is expected to return to the starting lineup Friday, according to ESPN.

Tejada was hit in the head by a pitch during Wednesday's game, and sat out Thursday. The injury is not considered serious, and manager Terry Collins was just trying to be cautious with his shortstop. "We thought we’d give him one more day just as a precaution," Collins said. "He feels great. Said he could play, but we’ll just give him today and get him back in there tomorrow."

Tejada is hitting .235 over 260 at-bats.