MLB Player News
-
J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Expected back Saturday
Martinez (hamstring) is expected to return to the lineup Saturday versus the Padres, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Martinez has missed the Dodgers' entire three-game set against the Athletics due to left hamstring tightness and will also be held out of the lineup for Friday's series opener in San Diego, but he took batting practice Thursday in Los Angeles and also did some on-field running without issue. When healthy this season, the veteran slugger has delivered an .872 OPS with 25 home runs and 75 RBI in 85 games.
-
J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Remains out Thursday
Martinez (hamstring) is out of the lineup again Thursday versus the Athletics.
Martinez has been sidelined since Sunday due to lingering left hamstring tightness, but imaging scans taken this week showed no structural damage, and he is expected to avoid the injured list. Will Smith will take a turn as the Dodgers' designated hitter Thursday as Austin Barnes handles the catching duties.
-
Kyle Lewis DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Optioned to Reno
Arizona optioned Lewis to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.
This move frees up a 26-man roster spot for Tommy Pham, who was acquired from the Mets ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline and will officially report to the Diamondbacks ahead of Thursday's series finale in San Francisco. Lewis has batted just .182/.229/.303 in 35 plate appearances this season at the major-league level.
-
Daniel Vogelbach DH | TOR
Mets' Daniel Vogelbach: On bench Thursday
Vogelbach is out of the lineup again Thursday versus the Royals.
Vogelbach sat Wednesday with the Royals throwing a lefty, and he'll remain on the bench Thursday as right-hander Brady Singer readies to toe the slab for Kansas City. Mark Vientos is serving as the Mets' designated hitter and batting sixth.
-
Jorge Soler DH | LAA
Marlins' Jorge Soler: Belts 26th homer
Soler went 1-for-6 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 9-8 extra-innings win over the Phillies.
With the Marlins down by a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, Soler crushed a 98.8-mph sinker from Gregory Soto to right-center field to tie the game at 5-5, setting the stage for a wild finish. The 31-year-old slugger was ice cold coming out of the All-Star break, batting .136 (6-for-44) in 11 games with a 36.7 percent strikeout rate, but he's now hit safely in five straight and gone yard in two of the last three contests while fanning only four times. On the season, Soler's up to 26 homers and 57 RBI through 104 games with an .825 OPS, which would be his highest mark since 2019 when he launched 48 homers for the Royals.
-
Christopher Morel DH | MIA
Cubs' Christopher Morel: Homers, drives in three in big win
Morel went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 16-6 win over the Reds.
Morel hit a two-run shot in the third inning, his 17th home run of the season, and added another RBI on his 12th double. Despite the Cubs' acquisition of Jeimer Candelario at the trade deadline, Morel has stuck in the lineup, serving as the designated hitter each of the last two nights. With Candelario slotting in at first base, Cody Bellinger figures to play mostly in center, with Mike Tauchman also in the mix. Morel's playing time should be secure if he keeps delivering at the plate like he's done all season long.
-
J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Out again with tight hamstring
Martinez (hamstring) remains out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Athletics.
Martinez has been sidelined all this week due to left hamstring tightness, though he said Tuesday that he believes he will be able to avoid the injured list. Chris Taylor is serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter Wednesday and batting sixth.
-
Daniel Vogelbach DH | TOR
Mets' Daniel Vogelbach: Sitting versus southpaw
Vogelbach is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Vogelbach is 3-for-12 with a home run and a walk over his past four games, but he'll take a seat Wednesday with lefty Cole Ragans pitching for Kansas City. Pete Alonso will rest his legs as the designated hitter while Mark Vientos starts at first base.
-
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | BAL
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Drives in two
Encarnacion-Strand went 2-for-5 with two RBI in Tuesday's 20-9 loss to the Cubs.
Encarnacion-Strand bounced back from his first stretch of adversity in the majors. After a five-game stretch in which the 23-year-old went 1-for-14 with eight strikeouts, Encarnacion-Strand has four hits, three RBI and a run scored without striking out in his last two games.
-
J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Out with tight hamstring
Martinez (hamstring) is absent from the lineup Tuesday versus Oakland.
Martinez made an early exit from Sunday's series finale against the Reds due to left hamstring tightness. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, the results of which have not yet been made available. Chris Taylor is serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter Tuesday.