MLB Player News

Hayes (back) has been hitting on the field and will run the bases Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Assuming he feels well after Sunday's activity, Hayes will meet with manager Derek Shelton to determine his next steps. That would presumably either be activation from the injured list or a rebab assignment.

Espinal started at third base and went 1-for-3 in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Dodgers.

Espinal was a late addition to the lineup after Jeimer Candelario (neck) was scratched. The utility infielder is getting a relevant amount of plate appearances due to injuries and a player suspension. While his .195 average isn't attractive, Espinal has hit with regularity of late, going 9-for-33 (.273) with a double, a home run, three RBI, four walks, two steals and four runs scored over the last 11 games.

Baty went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's 7-2 extra-inning loss to the Giants.

Getting the start at third base and batting eighth, Baty put the Mets ahead 2-1 by taking Sean Hjelle deep in the seventh inning, but Edwin Diaz and the bullpen melted down once again. Baty snapped a 14-game homer drought with the blast, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a .122/.182/.146 slash line with a 42.2 percent strikeout rate while seeing Mark Vientos move past him on the depth chart at third base. While Baty's long ball was encouraging, he also struck out twice more Saturday. Until he solves his contact issues, he'll have a hard time reclaiming the starting job at the hot corner.

Candelario was scratched from the Reds' lineup Saturday due to neck stiffness.

The Reds haven't provided any information on the severity of Candelario's injury, but it is apparently bothering him enough to hold him out of Saturday's contest. Santiago Espinal will enter the lineup to cover third base while batting ninth.

The Red Sox traded Reyes to the Mets on Saturday in exchange for cash, Katie Morrison-O'Day of The Springfield Republican reports.

Reyes was sent outright to Triple-A Worcester earlier in May, and he will now head to New York to give the Mets additional organizational depth in the infield. The 30-year-old has played in five games at Triple-A, going 6-for-13 with a home run, four RBI and four runs scored. He will likely report to Triple-A Syracuse.

Riley (side) isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Saturday's game against the Pirates.

Manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Riley is likely to sit out until Atlanta begins its series against the Nationals on Monday, so the third baseman's absence Saturday isn't too surprising. Zack Short will continue starting at third base while Riley misses his 12th consecutive game.

Vientos isn't in the Mets' lineup for Saturday's game versus the Giants, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The Mets will give Vientos a day off after the third baseman belted his third home run of the season during Friday's loss. Brett Baty will man the hot corner and bat eighth while Vientos sits.

Vientos went 1-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's loss to the Giants.

The 24-year-old continues to stake a claim to the starting job at third base ahead of Brett Baty. Since getting called back up to the majors May 15, Vientos has gone 8-for-25 (.320) with six extra-base hits, including two of his three big-league homers this season, and a 4:6 BB:K.

Espinal started at third base and went 0-for-2 with two walks, a steal and a run scored in Friday's 9-6 win over the Dodgers.

Espinal's stolen base was his sixth in 38 games played, tying a career high he had in 2021 (92 games) and 2022 (135 games) while with the Blue Jays. The Reds tend to be aggressive on the basepaths, and Espinal has taken advantage of more playing time than was expected when the team acquired him late in spring training.

Burger went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 3-0 win over the Diamondbacks.

Burger has gone 8-for-63 (.127) over 16 games since he returned from an oblique injury, with Friday's effort being his second multi-hit game in that span. He's yet to find a rhythm at the plate, and he was slumping just before the injury too. Burger is slashing .175/.211/.300 with four homers, 17 RBI, 11 runs scored and three doubles over 128 plate appearances this season, though he remains in a starting role for a Marlins team that has no plans to contend in 2024.