MLB Player News

Mets second baseman Dilson Herrera began taking swings and throwing Monday, reports ESPN.com.

Herrera is on the disabled list with a fractured finger. He has not played since May 14.

Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa hit his sixth home run of the year in Wednesday night's 3-0 win over the Cubs. 

The homer, which came in a pinch-hit situation, was an insurance run for the Nationals in the top of the ninth inning. Espinosa is now hitting .256/.357/.463 for the season. 

Espinosa is on pace to have the best hitting season of his career. He's never ended a year with a batting average over .247. 

Padres first baseman Yangervis Solarte went 2 for 4 from the plate in Monday night's 4-3 loss to the Angels. 

Solarte hit an RBI double to left field in the seventh inning that scored Will Middlebrooks. It snapped a five-game streak where Solarte had not notched an RBI. The double was Solarte's 10th of the season. 

This was the second outing in a row that Solarte recorded a multi-hit game. 

Solarte now holds a slash line of .283/.331/.399. 

Dodgers third baseman Alex Guerrero has returned to the lineup after taking Saturday's game against the Padres off. 

Guerrero will hit sixth after Justin Turner filled in his spot a day ago. 

Outfielder Enrique Hernandez is batting seventh and catcher Austin Barnes is batting eighth. 

Nationals 2B Dan Uggla has been solid against left-handed pitchers this year, something his team wants him to continue on Saturday against the Phillies' Cole Hamels.

Uggla, who is hitting .273/.385/.545 in 11 at-bats against lefties this season, will get the start over Danny Espinosa.

In 62 career at-bats against Hamels, Uggla is only hitting .145/.239/.323 with three home runs, two doubles and six RBI.

Padres first baseman Yangervis Solarte was switched to the leadoff spot for Friday’s game at the Los Angeles Dodgers, reports the team's play-by-play announcer.

It is the first time this season Solarte will bat in the leadoff spot. He will go against Zack Greinke, who he is 0 for 5 against in his career. Solarte is batting .250 with two RBI in his last six games.

The Padres are the underdogs (+180) against the Dodgers on Friday.

Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins is being held out of the starting lineup for Thursday's contest against the Giants. Rollins had started each of the last six games and 10 of the last 11.

Rollins is just 6 for 28 lifetime against Thursday's starter Madison Bumgarner, so manager Don Mattingly felt this was a good time to give the veteran shortstop a day off. He is 10 for 38 over his last 10 games with a home run and two RBI.

Enrique Hernandez will fill in for Rollins at short while batting second in the order. 

Mets second baseman Dilson Herrera had his injured finger re-examined on Monday, and it was confirmed that he's dealing with a fracture, Newsday reports.

Herrera is scheduled to be re-evaluated in three weeks. He hit .235/.297/.353 in 34 at-bats before being placed on the disabled list.

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa went 1 for 3 at the plate in Washington's 10-5 win over the Padres on Sunday.

Espinosa did his damage in the fifth when he crushed an 0-1 pitch from Ian Kennedy over the right field wall for a three-run shot, his fifth of the season.

"I got a good pitch to hit," Espinosa said to MLB.com. "I was trying to look for something I could drive. I got over-aggressive on the first pitch and I told myself to just be patient."

Manager Matt Williams likes the progress he's seen from Espinosa.

"All I know is last year," Williams said. "Last year his head was getting out in front of his body. This year, he is sitting down at the plate a little bit more and he is letting the ball come to him. Anytime you can do that, you have a better chance of having a little bit of success. He loves to play. I love to put him in there. He delivered again today for us."

Espinosa is hitting .275 with 13 RBI in 102 at-bats this season.

For just the third time this season, Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is not in the starting lineup. Pederson has been slumping lately at the plate, hitting just .154 with seven punchouts in his last seven games. So manager Don Mattingly has decided to give the youngster a rest for Saturday's matchup with the Rockies.

Enrique Hernandez will fill in at center field and bat leadoff on Saturday.