MLB Player News

Stewart is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The lefty-hitting Stewart is on the bench for the second day in a row while Cincinnati brings southpaw Andrew Abbott to the hill for the series finale. With manager Carlos Mendoza noting earlier Sunday that J.D. Martinez (general body soreness) isn't in line to make his Mets debut until at least Friday, Stewart should retain a role as the team's primary designated hitter during its four-game series in Atlanta to begin the upcoming week.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Martinez won't participate in baseball activities for two days after reporting "overall body soreness" before he returns to Single-A St. Lucie's lineup Tuesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Martinez was looking to join the Mets during the four-game series in Atlanta that begins Monday, but that's no longer a possibility. The 35-year-old could join the big club for Friday's series opener versus Kansas City in New York, though his season debut may get pushed back further. Martinez's outlook should receive more clarity once he attempts to return to minor-league action.

McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It's the second straight day on the bench for McCutchen, who is 3-for-20 with four walks and 11 strikeouts through his first five games of the season. Edward Olivares will bat seventh as the designated hitter.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Martinez won't join the big-league club during the four-game series in Atlanta that begins Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The veteran slugger made two appearances at Single-A St. Lucie this weekend but isn't quite ready to join the Mets. The earliest Martinez could now join the MLB club is Friday's series opener versus the Royals in New York, though it's unclear if he's expected to join the team at that point.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.

Atlanta is bringing a left-handed starting pitcher (Chris Sale) to the mound for the second day in a row, so the lefty-hitting Pederson will remain on the bench for the series finale. Ketel Marte will replace Pederson in the lineup as Arizona's designated hitter.

Grichuk started at designated hitter and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 9-8 loss to Atlanta.

Grichuk was activated from the injured list Friday and made his season debut the next day. He singled in a run during Arizona's six-run first inning. The righty-hitter should start most games when the Diamondbacks face a left-hander, as was the case Saturday against Max Fried. Atlanta has another southpaw, Chris Sale, scheduled for Sunday, and Grichuk could make his season debut in the field.

Ozuna went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI on Saturday in a 9-8 win over the Diamondbacks.

Atlanta was down 6-0 before they got a chance to bat, but Ozuna got the scoring going for his club with an RBI double in the fourth, and he made it a game with a three-run blast in the fifth before Atlanta eventually completed the comeback. The designated hitter is already up to four home runs on the season, which trails only Mookie Betts.

Pederson isn't in Arizona's lineup for Saturday's matchup against Atlanta.

Southpaw Max Fried will take the mound for Atlanta on Saturday, meaning the lefty-swinging Pederson will stay put in the dugout to begin the game. Randal Grichuk will fill in as the D-backs' DH and bat sixth.

McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Saturday's game versus Baltimore, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

McCutchen will get a breather after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts during Friday's series opener. His absence will allow Edward Olivares to serve as Pittsburgh's DH while batting fifth.

Manager Mike Shildt said Friday that Machado has been extending distance when playing catch and is "a little ahead of schedule" in terms of rehabbing from offseason elbow surgery, though the Padres won't consider having him return to the field for a few more weeks, 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.

Machado has been limited exclusively to designated-hitter duties to begin the campaign, and that appears unlikely to change for at least a few more weeks. Nonetheless, Shildt indicated that the veteran third baseman is "in a good place" and has been feeling good after recent throwing sessions. It's uncertain if Machado's offseason surgery has affected his swing, but he's off to a slow start at the plate, slashing .184/.295/.395 with two home runs, seven RBI and a 6:7 BB:K through 44 plate appearances.