MLB Player News

Busch is absent from the Cubs' lineup against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Busch will ride the bench for Sunday's rubber match with St. Louis despite recording at least one hit in seven of his last eight games. Pedro Ramirez will man first base and bat sixth for the Cubs.

Horwitz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

For the second time in the series, Horwitz will hit the bench while the Red Sox send another lefty to the bump in Patrick Sandoval. Rafael Flores will check in for Horwitz at first base and bat fifth.

Vargas started at second base Saturday in place of the injured Ketel Marte (knee) and went 1-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in a 10-3 win over Atlanta.

Vargas finsihed off the scoring with a three-run shot in the top of the ninth inning. He replaced Marte in Friday's game, when the latter was removed in the second inning, and filled in for him again a day later. Marte was considered a game-time decision Saturday, so this may not lead to a sizeable opportunity for Vargas. The homer was his eighth of the season, a career high, but his first since May 12.

Burleson went 1-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Cubs.

The 27-year-old slugger capped the scoring for the Cardinals with a solo shot off Collin Rea in the eighth inning. While his performance was overshadowed by Joshua Baez's history-making three-homer day in his MLB debut, Burleson achieved a milestone of his own, becoming the first player in the majors this season with 30 doubles and 20 homers. Over 13 games in August, Burleson is batting .311 (14-for-45) with five long balls, 11 runs and 15 RBI.

Devers went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Rockies.

After going 0-for-8 in his previous three games, Devers hit an RBI double in the ninth inning, driving in San Francisco's final run. The veteran infielder hasn't been very productive this month, batting .220 with five runs scored, four RBI and two home runs in 48 plate appearances. Overall, he's slashing .245/.320/.467 with 65 RBI, 62 runs scored and 24 long balls across 515 plate appearances this season.

Vargas moved from first to second base after Ketel Marte (knee) was removed from Friday's game in the second inning. The former went 1-for-4 in a 2-0 win over Atlanta.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Marte began to feel soreness in his left knee during last week's series against the Padres, per Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. Vargas is expected to fill in for Marte, who is listed as day-to-day. Vargas is batting .200 (6-for-30) with two doubles, one triple, one steal, six RBI and one run scored over 11 games this month.

Freeman is not in the Dodgers' starting lineup against the Brewers on Friday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Freeman was in the lineup Thursday one day after falling into the Royals' dugout. He'll get the day off for Friday's series opener while Enrique Hernandez starts at first base and bats eighth.

Mets interim manager Andy Green said Friday that Vientos (hand) has begun baseball activities, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

Vientos is finally ready to ease back into workouts after missing more than a month of action with a fractured right hand. There's no timetable yet for the infielder's return, and he is likely to require a rehab assignment before being reinstated to the active roster.

Bauers went 1-for-4 with a walk, one RBI and one stolen base in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Dodgers.

Bauers delivered an RBI single to give the Brewers the lead in the ninth inning, then stole second in an attempt to help them build on their rally. Bauers had been caught stealing on his previous two attempts, though he has logged three thefts since the All-Star break. On the year, the first baseman is hitting .268 with an .871 OPS, 21 home runs, 68 RBI, 69 runs scored, 17 doubles, two triples and nine steals over 109 contests.

Ortiz went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 7-0 win over the Cubs.

Ortiz delivered the biggest blow of Washington's five-run fifth inning, taking Kevin Gausman deep for a three-run homer. The rookie has wasted little time making an impact since his call-up, going deep four times in just 10 games. During that stretch, Ortiz is batting 9-for-28 (.321) with eight RBI, providing an immediate source of power in what was already baseball's top scoring lineup.