MLB Player News

Morel went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 3-1 win over the Mets.

Morel was hitless until the ninth inning, when he delivered a two-out home run with a runner on against New York closer Edwin Diaz to break open a 1-1 tie. The key blast was Morel's fourth of the season and first since April 9. He's not off to as fast of a start as he had last year, but the 24-year-old can heat up in a hurry, and perhaps this effort will provide the spark.

Baty is out of the lineup for Monday's game versus the Cubs, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The Cubs have right-hander Jameson Taillon on the mound, but the Mets are rewarding the right-handed-hitting Mark Vientos with a start at third base after he hit a walk-off home run in Sunday's 11-inning win over the Cardinals. Baty is just 3-for-25 at the plate over his last nine games.

Vargas went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Marlins.

With one out in the sixth inning, Vargas cracked a double off Bruch Smith, advanced to third on a single, then raced home as part of a double steal with Trey Lipscomb. Vargas got the start at second base Sunday with lefty Ryan Weathers on the mound for Miami, and a short-side platoon role at the keystone might be all that's available for the 32-year-old utility player right now with Lipscomb, Nick Senzel and Luis Garcia all producing at the plate. Vargas has been making an impact of his own when he gets the chance though, slashing .304/.396/.413 through 53 plate appearances with two steals, four RBI and five runs.

Lipscomb went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Marlins.

Getting the start at third base and batting sixth, Lipscomb played a big role as the Nationals made a stunning comeback from an early 7-0 deficit, eventually winning 12-9. The rookie has been getting consistent playing time since returning to the majors April 24, and he's responded with three straight multi-hit performances to boost his slash line on the season to .292/.356/.354 with one homer, five steals, four RBI and 13 runs in 73 plate appearances. Lipscomb has started all three of those games at third base, while Nick Senzel handles DH duties and Jesse Winker moves to left field. Expect the Nats to continue finding room for Lipscomb in the lineup as long as he's swinging a hot bat.

Riley posted an exit velocity over 100 mph on three different balls Saturday but failed to get a hit on any of them, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The third baseman did collect two hits Sunday, including a walk-off single in the 10th inning, but for the most part Riley hasn't been getting results of late -- he hasn't homered in 18 straight games, slashing .222/.317/.319 over that stretch with five doubles, a triple and six RBI. Given the way he's swinging the bat, however, it seems only a matter of time before the 27-year-old heats up. Advanced metrics back up the idea that Riley's lack of production is mainly due to bad luck -- he sits in the 90th percentile in barrel rate on the season, right in line with his 2023 (89th percentile) and 2022 (96th percentile) campaigns.

Bohm went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored Sunday in the Phillies' 8-6 win over the Padres.

Recently elevated into the cleanup spot, Bohm has stayed on a heater at the plate to give the Phillies little reason to think about moving him down in the order. He's now turned in multi-hit efforts in eight of his last 10 games, batting .548 during that stretch to lift his season-long average up to .365, trailing only Mookie Betts (.387) and Will Smith (.367) for tops among qualified hitters.

Vientos went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run during Sunday's 4-2 extra-innings win over the Cardinals.

Vientos entered the contest as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth, notching a single. He came back to the plate in the 11th, when he plated Harrison Bader on a game-winning two-run home run. While Vientos was called up to fill the hole left by Starling Marte's (personal) absence, he could earn a permanent big-league spot if he continues to rake.

Senzel went 2-for-6 with two home runs and five RBI during Sunday's 12-9 win over the Marlins.

Senzel's two home runs came in consecutive innings, with the two-run homer in the fourth cutting the lead to two, then the three-run blast in the fifth giving the Nationals a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The third baseman got off to a late start with the Nationals after fracturing his thumb prior to Opening Day but has found his groove over the last six games, as each of his five hits during that stretch have cleared the outfield fence. The power is legit for Senzel, who was never quite able to put things together during his five seasons in Cincinnati but has been thriving in his first season with Washington.

Morel (hip) is starting at third base and batting cleanup Sunday against the Red Sox.

The 24-year-old collided with Alexander Canario after making a running catch in the outfield Saturday but is apparently no worse for wear. Morel fell into a 1-for-32 slump over nine contests in mid-May, but his bat has come alive over his past six games with a .781 OPS.

Hayes went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's win over the Giants.

Hayes jumped on a hanging sweeper from Tyler Rogers in the top of the 10th and sent it into the stands for his first home run of the season, going back-to-back with Bryan Reynolds as the Pirates took care of the Giants in extra innings. The third baseman has now registered two hits in back-to-back games and in three of his last six overall, batting .333 (8-for-24) over that stretch.