MLB Player News

Moncada (back) was activated Friday from the 10-day injured list.

Moncada is set to return to action for the White Sox in Friday night's series opener against the visiting Astros after missing a full month due to lingering lower-back discomfort. He was off to an encouraging start before the early season injury, boasting a .308/.325/.564 batting line with two home runs and four doubles through nine games. He'll hit cleanup Friday.

Farmer is batting cleanup for the Twins on Friday against the Cubs, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Farmer is 2-for-6 with a homer since returning Wednesday from surgery to repair his lower lip and bottom teeth, the aftermath of a brutal hit-by-pitch to the jaw back in early April. He could continue to get semi-everyday looks at third base as Jose Miranda works on his craft at Triple-A St. Paul.

Escobar is starting at third base and batting eighth for the Mets on Friday against the Nationals, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Brett Baty has started three of the last four against lefties, but Escobar is subbing in for him versus MacKenzie Gore. Escobar has a .646 OPS against southpaws this season, which is actually much better than his .459 OPS against righties.

Baty is absent from the Mets' lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Left-hander MacKenzie Gore actually has drastic reverse splits this season, with lefties producing a 1.258 OPS against him and righties a .584 OPS. He did fare better versus left-handed hitters in 2022, though, and the left-handed batting Baty will be on the bench in favor of Eduardo Escobar for this one.

Castro is not in the lineup Friday versus the Orioles, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Castro hasn't started a game for the Pirates since Monday's series opener against the Rockies and seems to have fallen into more of a utility role after a multi-week run as the team's primary shortstop. Tucupita Marcano is playing short and batting seventh Friday in Baltimore.

Maton isn't starting Friday against the Mariners.

Maton has hit just .136 with two doubles, two RBI, a run, a walk and nine strikeouts over his last eight games, and he'll take a seat for a second consecutive contest with left-hander Marco Gonzales on the mound for Seattle. Andy Ibanez will take over at the hot corner and bat fifth.

Candelario (ankle) is starting Friday's game against the Mets.

Candelario was removed from Wednesday's game against the Giants after tweaking his ankle on a slide, but he'll start at the hot corner and bat sixth following the Nationals' day off Thursday. Over his last three appearances, he's gone 1-for-12 with a double, a run and a strikeout.

Busch was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City by the Dodgers on Thursday.

Busch didn't play a ton during his first stint in the big leagues, getting five starts over a two-and-a-half week period. He's clearing out to make room for J.D. Martinez's return from the injured list.

Farmer went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a 5-3 win against San Diego on Thursday.

Farmer showed some muscle with a game-tying, 433-foot blast off Yu Darvish in the fourth inning. It was just his second homer of the campaign, though he's played in only 13 contests due to an extended IL stint. Farmer was in an 0-for-11 cold spell prior to hitting the injured list, but he has gone 2-for-6 in two contests since his return.

Paredes is not in the lineup Thursday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Taylor Walls will play third base and bat fifth versus the Yankees and right-hander Domingo German. Paredes enjoyed an encouraging start to the 2023 season but is slashing just .191/.261/.286 through 23 plate appearances so far in May. He has an overall .693 OPS against righties, compared to an .887 OPS against lefties.