MLB Player News

Albies went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's loss to the Astros.

Albies brought Atlanta back into the game with a two-run shot to cut the deficit to one in the sixth inning, but that was the end of the team's scoring Saturday. Albies has left the yard three times in his last six games, The second baseman has 18 RBI in 21 games this season.

Hoerner went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 9-4 loss to the Dodgers.

After not hitting a home run over the first 18 games of the season, Hoerner has gone deep in back-to-back matchups versus the Dodgers. The 25-year-old infielder continues to shine as the Cubs' leadoff hitter, and he's totaled 11 RBI, nine stolen bases and 19 runs across 20 games.

Donovan will hit the bench Saturday against Seattle.

Donovan returned from a left shin abrasion Friday but went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, dropping his slash line to a modest .254/.311/.388. He homered twice in the opening series but hasn't cleared the fence since. Nolan Gorman will be the second baseman Saturday, with Alec Burleson serving as the designated hitter.

Vargas will sit Saturday against the Cubs, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Vargas hits the bench after starting 10 straight games at second base. He hasn't gotten off to a great start this season, hitting .204/.371/.296 with zero homers, but his 14:15 BB:K at least indicates that he's seeing the ball quite well. Mookie Betts will start at second base, with Jason Heyward taking Betts' usual spot in right field.

Stott will sit Saturday against Kyle Freeland and the Rockies.

Stott filled the large side a platoon for much of last season, but he's been an everyday player this year. Saturday marks the first time he's been absent from the lineup, and given that he's off to a .344/.365/.452 start, he's unlikely to suddenly find himself regularly sitting against southpaws. Josh Harrison will fill in for him at second base.

Marte went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 9-0 win over the Padres.

Marte's bat stayed hot after getting a day off Thursday. The second baseman has safely hit in five straight games he's started, including four consecutive multi-hit efforts in that span. He's 10-for-22 with a double, triple, home run, four RBI and four runs scored during his hot stretch.

Miller went 1-for-4 with one run scored and one steal in Friday's 5-3 loss against the Red Sox.

Miller has stolen a base in consecutive games to jump his season total up to three. He appears to be benefitting from the new rules, as he had just four stolen bases in 190 career games prior to the 2023 season. The 26-year old came around to score after his steal thanks to a Christian Yelich single in the third inning. Miller is off to a good start at the plate too, hitting .286 (8-for-28) through 11 contests.

Mathias went 1-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 4-2 win over the Reds.

Making his eighth start of the season at second base, the 28-year-old got the Pirates on the board with a two-run single in the second inning before swiping his first bag of the year in the sixth after reaching on an error. Mathias has racked up seven hits in his last three games to push his batting average to .286 (8-for-28), and with Rodolfo Castro needed at shortstop, he has an opening to seize the starting job at the keystone over Ji Hwan Bae if he stays hot at the plate.

Hoerner went 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Friday's 13-0 rout of the Dodgers.

His three-run blast in the fifth inning off Andre Jackson was Hoerner's first long ball of the season, while the four-hit performance extended his hitting streak to six games. The 25-year-old infielder has had a blistering start to the season, batting .365 (31-for-85) through 19 games with nine steals, nine RBI and 17 runs as the Cubs' leadoff hitter.

Donovan (shin) is back in the starting lineup Friday at Seattle.

Recovered from a left shin abrasion, Donovan will start at second base and bat leadoff in the Cardinals' series opener versus the Mariners and right-hander George Kirby. The 26-year-old is slashing .270/.329/.413 with two homers and two steals in 17 games this season.