MLB Player News

Rodgers (illness) is starting at second base and batting fifth Friday versus the Blue Jays in his return to the lineup.

It's Rodgers' first start since Sunday, as he's been battling an illness this week but is finally feeling well enough to give it a go. The infielder is sporting just a .218/.274/.295 slash line in 20 games since returning from shoulder surgery in late July.

The Mets optioned Mendick to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

With the arrival of Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio to the major-league squad Friday, Mendick will be pushed back to the minors. The 29-year-old infielder slashed just .190/.227/.286 across 66 plate appearances with the Mets and will likely finish the season in Syracuse.

Mauricio was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

Mauricio is playing second base and batting ninth for the Mets on Friday versus the Mariners in his major-league debut. The 22-year-old has batted .292/.346/.506 with 23 home runs and 24 stolen bases this season with Syracuse. A switch hitter, Mauricio is expected to see most of his playing time at second base but is capable of handling shortstop, third base and left field as well.

Wall was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game reports.

The 27-year-old had a four-game stint with Atlanta earlier this season but has spent the bulk of the year at Gwinnett, posting a .799 OPS with eight homers and 52 stolen bases. He'll provide depth at all three outfield spots.

Albies will be held out of the lineup Thursday against the Dodgers, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

It's a planned day of rest for the 26-year-old second baseman, who just returned Monday from a two-week absence to heal a left hamstring strain. Albies went 5-for-10 with five singles in the final two games of Atlanta's previous series at Colorado. Nicky Lopez is starting at second base and batting ninth Thursday in Los Angeles.

Lopez was designated for assignment by the Reds on Thursday.

Lopez was just called up Tuesday, but the Reds needed to clear out 40-man roster space after claiming Harrison Bader and Hunter Renfroe ahead of Thursday's waiver deadline. Mike Siani has also been designated for assignment.

Kim went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to St. Louis.

After coming through with his second straight two-hit game, Kim is now sitting on an even .300 batting average since the beginning of June. In 78 total games over that stretch, Kim has supplemented the batting average with 12 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 56 runs and 33 RBI. The third-year infielder has been an underrated fantasy standout in 2023, and his ability to contribute quality numbers in five categories should make him a strong early-round building block in 2024 drafts.

Trejo went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run scored, a stolen base and a walk in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to Atlanta.

Entering Wednesday, Trejo had gone 0-for-12 across his last seven games while holding down a reserve role. The homer was his first since Aug. 13, while the steal was his first in 32 games dating back to June 3. The infielder has a poor .237/.283/.353 slash line with three long balls, five thefts, 22 RBI and 18 runs scored over 188 plate appearances this season.

Albies went 3-for-5 in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the Rockies.

Albies has gone 5-for-16 (.313) with four strikeouts over three games since he returned from a two-week absence with a left hamstring strain. The second baseman's power hasn't come back yet, but his timing at the plate is there. For the season, he's slashing .268/.326/.507 with 28 home runs, 90 RBI, 75 runs scored and 11 stolen bases through 120 contests. Albies has hit second in all three games since returning, bumping Michael Harris back to the bottom of the order.

Rodgers (illness) was scratched from the lineup Wednesday versus Atlanta.

Rodgers is apparently still battling symptoms related to the illness that kept him out both Monday and Tuesday. Alan Trejo will instead start at second base and bat eighth as the Rockies wrap up their three-game series against the NL East leaders.