MLB Player News

Sosa (ankle) is starting Saturday against Pittsburgh, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Sosa didn't appear in the last two games while dealing with an ankle injury, but he'll start at shortstop and bat eighth during Saturday's matchup. Over his last five games, he's gone 5-for-15 with two runs, an RBI and two strikeouts.

Longoria will sit Saturday against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Longoria made his season debut last Wednesday after missing the start of the season due to finger surgery. He's the clear primary third baseman in San Francisco, but he's also getting frequent days off, as he'll sit here for the third time in nine games since his return to action. Tommy La Stella will start at the hot corner this time around.

Wisdom is starting in left field and batting sixth in Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Wisdom has primarily played at third base this season, though this will be his third start of the year in left field. The Cubs are likely wanting to capitalize on the matchup against lefty starter Madison Bumgarner, as Wisdom owns an .875 OPS against southpaws this season, versus only a .618 mark against righties.

Farmer isn't starting Saturday against the Blue Jays.

Farmer started in the last three games and went 6-for-10 with two doubles, two RBI and a run. He'll get a breather while Matt Reynolds starts at shortstop with Alejo Lopez taking over at second base.

Machado went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base in an 8-7 victory over the Giants on Friday.

Machado singled and scored in the third inning, singled and stole second in the fifth and doubled in the go-ahead run in the 10th for his fourth three-hit game of the season. The 29-year-old is in the midst of a modest four-game hitting streak, though he hasn't homered since May 7, recording only two extra-base hits during the 13-game stretch. His .363/.437/.568 line remains among the best in the league while Machado's seven thefts rank 10th.

Reynolds went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays.

Starting at second base and hitting leadoff against southpaw Hyun Jin Ryu, Reynolds spoiled Toronto's shutout bid with a run-scoring double in the seventh inning. The 31-year-old utility player snapped a 1-for-16 mini-slump with the performance, and he figures to see regular playing time at the keystone this weekend with an unvaccinated Brandon Drury joining Jonathan India (hamstring) and Donovan Solano (hamstring) on the shelf for the road trip to Canada.

Castro went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base Friday against the Cardinals.

Castro reached base with a two-out single in the fifth inning. He stole second base successfully -- his first of the season -- but then ended the frame by getting caught attempting to steal third base. Castro has been in the lineup regularly since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on May 12, though he has only five hits across 25 at-bats.

Manager Dave Martinez announced Friday that Kieboom (elbow) will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Kieboom resumed throwing in early May, but he'll ultimately be sidelined for the remainder of the season after doctors determined he'd need Tommy John surgery. The recovery process for the procedure doesn't typically last as long for position players, so the Nationals are hopeful that the 24-year-old will be available for the start of spring training in 2023.

Vargas went 1-for-2 with two walks, a solo home run and two runs scored in Friday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Vargas batted ninth but still provided an offensive spark in the 10-6 loss. The 30-year-old got the start at shortstop over Andrelton Simmons, though the latter seems likely to play more regularly moving forward as he works his way back from a shoulder injury. Vargas won't have a ton of fantasy value in a utility role off the bench.

Wisdom went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Wisdom was one of four Cubs to hit a solo home run in the 10-6 defeat. The third baseman is batting just .207 this season, though he's offset that to some degree with seven home runs through 35 games. Wisdom hit a career-high 28 long balls across 106 games last year, and he seems set to make a run at that number in 2022 if he stays healthy.