MLB Player News

Melendez will start at designated hitter and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Melendez will pick up his fourth straight start after going 4-for-10 with two doubles, two walks, one run and one RBI since receiving a call-up from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. With Jorge Polanco (wrist) landing on the injured list, Melendez should have a fairly clear path to regular playing time against right-handed pitching, at least until Juan Soto (calf) is back.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Luis Torrens will receive a turn behind the plate while Alvarez rests after going hitless in four at-bats Saturday night. Alvarez has been largely exempt from the Mets' recent struggles, going 7-for-28 with more walks (five) than strikeouts (four) during the team's 10-game losing streak.

Hernandez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

Hernandez will head to the bench after a run of five straight starts, during which he went 3-for-17 with a double, a homer and eight strikeouts. Alex Call will receive the start in left field and bat sixth versus Colorado righty Michael Lorenzen.

Church will start in left field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Astros.

Church made just one start last week, but he appears to have taken back control of a regular spot in the outfield when St. Louis faces right-handed pitching. He'll pick up his fourth straight start after going 5-for-11 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI over the previous three games.

Saggese is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

Saggese is on the bench for the fourth game in a row and appears to have lost his grip on a regular spot in the lineup while mustering a weak .533 OPS across 47 plate appearances. Nathan Church has leapfrogged him on the depth chart after going 5-for-11 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI over the last three contests.

Wallner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Wallner will take a seat for the second straight day, this time against a right-handed starter (Brady Singer) after he had been out of the lineup for Saturday's 5-4 loss while southpaw Andrew Abbott opened the game for the Reds. James Outman will fill in as the Twins' starting right fielder in place of Wallner, who still appears to be locked into a full-time role despite slashing a meager .181/.272/.333 with three home runs and six RBI over 81 plate appearances to begin the season.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Jeffers appears to be receiving a routine breather for Sunday's matinee contest after starting in each of the Twins' previous three games. Victor Caratini is slated to handle catching duties for Minnesota in the series finale with the Reds.

Detmers is no longer scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Padres and will instead take the hill for Monday's game versus the Blue Jays in Anaheim, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Rather than waiting until the upcoming week to break in a new fifth starter, the Angels will have Walbert Urena enter the rotation for Sunday's series finale. Detmers tentatively lines up for two starts next week as a result, with his second turn set to come next Sunday in Kansas City.

Hernandez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Hernandez patrolled left field in 13 of the Marlins' first 21 games this season, but with Kyle Stowers (hamstring) making his return from the injured list Sunday, that path to playing time will close. Hernandez looks as though he may have to settle for a short-side platoon role in right field or at designated hitter after slashing a meager .137/.267/.176 through 60 plate appearances.

Frelick is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Frelick will hit the bench for just the third time this season and for the first time against a right-handed starting pitcher (Eury Perez). Luis Matos will check in as the Brewers' starting right fielder in place of Frelick, who is mired in a 3-for-30 slump at the plate over his last eight games.