MLB Player News
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Cedric Mullins CF | TB
Rays' Cedric Mullins: Sitting out versus righty
Mullins is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
Right-hander Colin Rea will toe the rubber for the Cubs, but the left-handed-hitting Mullins will nonetheless begin the contest on the bench. Jonny DeLuca will patrol center field and bat eighth in Wednesday's rubber match.
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Edouard Julien 2B | COL
Rockies' Edouard Julien: Gaining traction atop lineup
Julien will start at second base and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Astros.
Julien will handle leadoff duties for a third straight contest and appears to have at least temporarily claimed a spot in the Rockies' starting nine against right-handed pitching while Jake McCarthy (.385 OPS) and Jordan Beck (.268 OPS) are struggling. With a .513 OPS in 20 plate appearances, Julien has been only marginally better, and he'll likely need to raise his production to ensure he sticks in the lineup on a long-term basis.
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Jake McCarthy RF | COL
Rockies' Jake McCarthy: Sitting in second straight game
McCarthy is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.
The Rockies have faced right-handed starters in every game so far this season, but that hasn't been enough for the left-handed-hitting McCarthy to hold down a full-time role. After struggling to a .120/.185/.200 batting line through his first 28 plate appearances with the Rockies, McCarthy will stay on the bench for a second straight game. The slumping Jordan Beck (.268 OPS in 27 plate appearances) will also hit the bench, with both he and McCarthy having started to cede more opportunities to Troy Johnston and Edouard Julien.
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Willi Castro LF | COL
Rockies' Willi Castro: Receiving first day off of 2026
Castro is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.
Castro will head to the bench for the first time in 2026 after making starts at all four infield spots through Colorado's first 11 games of the season. With Castro bowing out of the lineup for the series finale, Edouard Julien will enter the starting nine at the keystone.
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Tyler Freeman 3B | COL
Rockies' Tyler Freeman: Cleared to rejoin lineup Wednesday
Freeman (back) will start at designated hitter and will bat second in Wednesday's game against the Astros.
Freeman experienced lower-back tightness leading up to Sunday's 4-1 win over the Phillies, resulting in him being scratched from the lineup. He went unused off the bench in the first two games of the Rockies' series versus Houston, but after healing up from the back issue, Freeman will take back a spot in the starting nine in a non-defensive role. Now healthy, Freeman is likely to serve as a short-side platoon player for Colorado and will be an option at multiple infield and outfield spots.
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Nathan Lukes RF | TOR
Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Helping to fill in for Barger
Lukes will start in right field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Lukes will be making his second straight start in right and could end up seeing most of his playing time at that position for the foreseeable future following Addison Barger's (ankle) recent placement on the injured list. The Blue Jays are likely to use Lukes in a platoon, with Myles Straw or Davis Schneider potentially spelling him when the team faces left-handed pitching.
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Tyler Heineman C | TOR
Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Sharing time at catcher
Heineman will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Heineman won the Blue Jays' backup catching role coming out of spring training, but he doesn't look like he'll see the overwhelming majority of the starts behind the plate after top backstop Alejandro Kirk fractured his left thumb Friday and later underwent surgery. Since Kirk went down with injury, Heineman has logged three starts at catcher, while the newly recalled Brandon Valenzuela has started twice. Heineman has been productive in a limited sample with a .795 OPS over 16 plate appearances this season, but until he takes on a larger volume of playing time, he likely won't warrant much intrigue outside of AL-only leagues.
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Hye Seong Kim 2B | LAD
Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Heading to bench Wednesday
Kim is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Since receiving a call-up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Kim has started at shortstop in two of the Dodgers' ensuing four games and has gone 3-for-7 with a double, two walks and three runs. Miguel Rojas will get the nod at shortstop Wednesday, but as the left-handed option of the two, Kim could see the larger share of starts at the position until the Dodgers get Mookie Betts (oblique) back from the injured list.
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Sean Manaea RP | NYM
Mets' Sean Manaea: Staying in bullpen for now
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that Manaea will remain in the team's bullpen for the time being, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The Mets are in the midst of nine straight games without an off day, and Mendoza had mentioned previously that he would use this stretch to insert a sixth starter into the rotation. However, he feels good about where his starting five is at, so the Mets will keep the status quo for now. Manaea has made two relief appearances this season, allowing just one run with a 4:4 K:BB over five innings of work.