MLB Player News

Newman (shoulder) is available off the bench Friday against the Phillies, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Newman took a pitch off his left shoulder Thursday, but X-rays came back negative and he only has some minor bruising. Jose Barrero is getting the start at shortstop for the Reds on Friday versus the visiting Phillies.

Baty could replace Eduardo Escobar as the Mets' starting third baseman very soon if the veteran doesn't emerge from his early season slump, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

After nearly winning a spot on the big-league roster this spring, Baty has kept the pressure on by going 12-for-31 (.387) to begin the year with four homers, 10 RBI and a 6:9 BB:K through eight games with Triple-A Syracuse. Escobar, meanwhile, is batting .103 (4-for-39) with a 2:11 BB:K and an average exit velocity in the fifth percentile. The Mets will give Escobar a little more time to turn things around at the plate, but if he doesn't begin producing soon, Baty is likely to get his chance.

Escobar could be running out of time to solidify his hold on the starting third base job for the Mets, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The veteran is batting just .103 (4-for-39) with one homer in 12 games to begin the season, and more discouragingly, that lack of base hits comes with a 2:11 BB:K and an average exit velocity in the bottom five percent of the league as well as a 12th percentile hard-hit rate. The Mets also have an alternative ready at hand in top prospect Brett Baty, who is off to a scorching start at Triple-A. Escobar still has time to shake off his early season slump, but with the team off to a 7-6 start that's fallen a bit short of expectations, meaning a switch at the hot corner could be on the table.

Machado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in an extra-inning loss to the Brewers on Thursday.

Machado entered Thursday batting a mediocre .250, and he had yet to go deep over his first 56 plate appearances in 2023. The star third baseman finally got off the schneid with a first-inning solo homer. Machado's start to the season has been disappointing, but chances are that he'll get in a groove eventually given that he averaged 30 homers and 104 RBI over his past two campaigns.

Hayes is batting leadoff Thursday at St. Louis.

Hayes is slashing just .149/.184/.213 through 49 plate appearances this season, but he'll look to get it going Thursday against the Cardinals and left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Ji Hwan Bae is hitting eighth.

Vosler isn't in the Reds' lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Vosler will take a seat with lefty Bailey Falter slated to start on the mound for Philadelphia. Tyler Stephenson will shift to first base in place of Vosler, giving Curt Casali a chance to start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Senzel (toe) was activated from the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Will Benson has been optioned out by the Reds in a corresponding roster move. Senzel tallied a homer and two doubles during his seven-game minor-league rehab stint with Triple-A Louisville and has a path to regular playing time in the Reds' outfield, but the 27-year-old former top prospect has mostly been unproductive in the majors over the last handful of seasons while dealing with numerous injuries. He'll start in center field and bat sixth Thursday against the Phillies and lefty Bailey Falter.

Muncy went 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in a 10-5 win over San Francisco on Wednesday.

Muncy entered the three-game series against the Giants with just one homer and a .121/.293/.212 slash line, but he turned things around quickly against his team's biggest rival. The third baseman feasted on San Francisco pitching to the tune of four homers and 11 RBI while going 5-for-9 in the series despite beginning the middle game on the bench. Muncy might be a surefire Hall of Famer if he could face the Giants every game -- he has 25 long balls and 55 RBI against them over 75 career contests spanning 296 plate appearances.

Arenado went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Wednesday's 7-4 win over the Rockies.

Arenado has driven in multiple runs three times in his last five games. He's been excellent as usual to begin 2023, hitting safely in 11 of 12 games to start the season. The third baseman is slashing .327/.382/.490 with two homers, 13 RBI, six runs scored and two doubles through 55 plate appearances.

Newman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

Jose Barrero will get his third consecutive start at shortstop while Newman remains on the bench once again. With Barrero having provided three hits -- including a two-run home run -- through the first two games of the series, he looks like he'll continue to be prioritized over Newman.