MLB Player News

Kemp is starting at second base and batting eighth Saturday against the Nationals.

Kemp is in the lineup for the second consecutive day and has drawn a start in four of the team's past six contests. However, he's done little with the extra opportunity, going just 1-for-10 at the dish.

The Mets are unsure if they will activate McNeil (hamstring) on Saturday, when he is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

He will play seven innings for short-season Brooklyn on Friday, getting time at third base and in the outfield. It sounds like McNeil could come off the injured list any day after Friday, depending on how his hamstring responds. The fact he is going to play some third base suggests he could displace Todd Frazier at the hot corner when activated.

Frazier went 1-for-4 with a solo shot, his seventh homer of the season, in Thursday's 7-1 loss to the Nationals.

Since boosting his batting average to .287 at the All-Star break, Frazier has slashed .205/.281/.320 with three home runs and no stolen bases in 135 plate appearances. Interestingly, he's gone 5-for-13 with three doubles and a homer in his career against Max Scherzer. Unfortunately, his struggles continue against the rest of the league.

McNeil (hamstring) will start a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Syracuse, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

He will play around six innings while seeing time in the outfield corners. This is expected to be a brief rehab assignment, as McNeil could still be activated this weekend.

Marte went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Wednesday against the Rockies.

Marte took Tim Melville deep in the sixth inning for his 27th homer of the season. He's in the midst of a five-game hit streak, but more impressively, he has at least one hit in 14 of 16 games in August. That's helped him maintain his strong results, as he's now slashing .319/.381/.571 across 538 plate appearances for the season.

Hernandez is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Blue Jays, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

He started in his first game off the injured list Tuesday against a righty, but he will head to the bench against a righty (Wilmer Font opening, Zack Godley primary reliever) in this one. As the Dodgers continue to get healthy and inevitably add reinforcements in September, Hernandez will likely start around half the games down the stretch. He will start against most lefties and against some righties. Matt Beaty is starting in left field and hitting eighth.

McNeil (hamstring) took batting practice Wednesday, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

He is on the shelf with a left hamstring injury, but presumably remains on track to come off the injured list later this week. Juan Lagares has been getting extra playing time in the short term.

Frazier is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Nationals.

Frazier has struggled since the start of August, slashing .193/.258/.281 with one home run in 16 games. As such, he'll take a seat against lefty Patrick Corbin, as Kevin Newman shifts to second base and Erik Gonzalez picks up a start at shortstop.

Hernandez (hand) was activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Hernandez may enter into the short side of a platoon with Matt Beaty, although he hit .339/.406/.548 with three home runs in his last 20 games before landing on the IL, so perhaps there will be more regular work available. Kristopher Negron (neck soreness) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.

Rojas is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Rockies.

It seems as though Rojas has settled into the strong side of a right field platoon with Adam Jones. He will head to the bench against lefty Kyle Freeland in this one.