MLB Player News

Against the Brewers Thursday night, Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond will not be in the starting lineup for the first time this season. 

Desmond has started all 59 games up until this point and is likely just receiving a day off. However, he's batting just .128 over his past 10 games and did have a critical error two games ago. Replacing him at shortstop will be Danny Espinosa. 

Espinosa, conversely, has been hot of late. In his past five games, he's hitting .429 with two home runs and three doubles. 

The Mets activated infielder Dilson Herrera off the 15-day disabled list Thursday. Herrera has been sidelined since May 15 due to a broken finger.

Herrera spent five games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas and Class A St. Lucie. He hit .400 (8 for 20) with two RBI, three doubles, one run and five strikeouts.

Mets infielder Dilson Herrera will be activated off the 15-day disabled list prior to Thursday's game against the Giants, the team announced Thursday morning. Herrera has been sidelined since May 15 due to a broken finger.

Herrera spent five games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas and Class A St. Lucie. He hit .400 (8 for 20) with two RBI, three doubles, one run and five strikeouts.

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa went deep for his eighth home run of the season in the win over the Yankees on Wednesday. It was his second home run in his last five games, and it gave his team 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.

Espinoza also singled, doubled and scored two runs, lifting his batting average up to .263. With Yunel Escobar and Anthony Rendon both healthy and in the lineup, Espionza could see some time in left field in the coming days. 

Mets infielder Dilson Herrera (finger) will be activated off the disabled list within the next few days, manager Terry Collins said Wednesday. Herrera was originally expected to come off the DL on Wednesday before the Mets chose to extend his rehab assignment.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve may just not know how to struggle with the bat. Altuve hasn't quite been on the same pace from a year ago, but he's still been very productive at the top of the order.

Altuve has been held hitless in three of nine games in June, but still 10 hits in 35 at-bats this month. He hasn't had two consecutive hitless games since May 22-23. Overall this season, Altuve is slashing .295/.335/.402. He is currently ranked seventh in the American League with 71 hits, and his 17 stolen bases are tops in the league. 

Mets infielder Dilson Herrera will not be activated from the disabeld list on Wednesday. Herrera, who is on the DL with a finger injury, will remain with Triple-A Las Vegas for now, according to ESPN.com. 

There has been no word on how long Herrera is expected to stay with Las Vegas.

Catcher Travis d'Arnaud and second baseman Dilson Herrera are destined to return to the Mets on Wednesday barring a setback Monday in their rehab games with Triple-A Las Vegas, per the New York Post.

d'Arnaud has been sidelined since April 19 with hand and wrist injuries. Herrera has been down for three weeks with a finger issue.

Rays third baseman Jake Elmore is batting leadoff on Sunday, while designated hitter Joey Butler is batting third in his team's matchup with the Mariners.

It's the first time in each role for both players. Elmore has yet to bat higher than sixth in the lineup, but he'll lead off against Mariners lefty Mike Montgomery. Butler has been entrenched in the No. 2 spot in the lineup but will shift down with the team missing Evan Longoria for a second straight game.

The Rays are road favorites (-129) in Seattle, per VegasInsider.com.

Second baseman Danny Espinosa was held out of the Nationals' lineup on Sunday, after starting eight of the last nine games.

Espinosa is replaced by Anthony Rendon, who starts his second game at second base, both coming in the last four outings. 

Rendon will bat cleanup.