MLB Player News

Solarte started in left field and went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 3-1 loss to San Diego.

Solarte has now started three consecutive games (each at different positions) after sitting out the season opener, going 3-for-12 with a pair of doubles and an RBI over that span. The veteran utility man was giving two left-handed regular infielders a day off in his first two starts, but Solarte's usage in left field against a righty could indicate a potential platoon with Michael Reed moving forward. We won't fully know until the Giants' schedule normalizes (five southpaws through the first seven games), but this situation will be one to monitor for those in deep and NL-only formats.

Marte went 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Dodgers.

Marte knocked a two-run single during Arizona's seven-run fourth inning, but it wasn't enough to earn the win. It was his first multi-hit game of the year after going 1-for-13 in his first three games.

McNeil is not in the lineup Sunday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Puma stated that the move was predetermined by manager Mickey Callaway due to the matchup against Patrick Corbin. The timing of the decision is a bit curious as McNeil recorded four hits, including a double and triple, in Saturday's action. J.D. Davis will replace McNeil at third base.

McNeil went 4-for-5 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and two RBI in an 11-8 win over Washington on Saturday.

McNeil went hitless in Thursday's opener but was all over the basepaths Saturday and started in left field. The 26-year-old should continue to be a regular in the Mets' lineup, whether it be in left field or filling at third base with Jed Lowrie (elbow) and Todd Frazier (oblique) on the injured list.

Hernandez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Hernandez is 3-for-9 with two home runs, three RBI, four runs scored and two walks through the first two games of the season, but will take a seat Saturday versus right-hander Zack Godley. Chris Taylor will start at second base and bat seventh in his stead.

Merrifield will start in right field and lead off Saturday against the White Sox.

Merrifield appeared at second base in 108 games a season ago and was expected to receive the majority of his action at the keystone in 2019, but he'll instead make both of his first two starts in right field. According to Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com, manager Ned Yost recently said that using Merrifield in right gives the Royals their best defensive outfield, as it allows the team to shift the slow-footed Jorge Soler to designated hitter. Merrifield made 39 appearances in the outfield in 2018 and should already have eligibility at the position in the majority of leagues, so the more notable takeaway from the news is that he looks on track to carry dual-position eligibility into 2020 as well.

Frazier will start at second base and lead off in Saturday's game against the Reds.

Confirming what was already expected coming out of spring training, Frazier has slotted in atop the lineup in both of the Pirates' first two games of the regular season. Since the Pirates have faced right-handed pitchers (Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray) in both of those contests, it's possible the lefty-hitting Frazier surrenders leadoff duties versus southpaws, though it's not clear whom the Pirates would turn to as an alternative.

Kemp started at designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a stolen base and run scored in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Rays.

Kemp made his season debut with the start, filling the DH role that went to Tyler White on Opening Day. He stole second after being hit by a pitch and eventually scored the game's first run on a double by Michael Brantley in the third inning. Manager AJ Hinch will rotate players through the DH spot, so expect Kemp to get occasional starts there. If he can make contributions consistently, Kemp may grab a larger slice of the plate appearances.

Marte started at second base and went 0-for-6 with an RBI in Friday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Dodgers.

Marte has made one start in center field and one at second base. He's expected to see most of his time in center field, but there will be nights when manager Torey Lovullo wants to get Jarrod Dyson in the lineup, so expect Marte to move around to accommodate those managerial decisions. Thus far, Marte is hitless in nine at-bats but does have an RBI in both contests.

Solarte is batting third and will play second base Friday against the Padres, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Solarte failed to pick up a hit in one at-bat Opening Day, but he'll receive a few more opportunities Friday night. Joe Panik will head to the bench as a result.