MLB Player News

Lopez went 2-for-5 with two runs scored in Saturday's 9-7 loss to the Yankees.

Lopez singled and scored in the first and ninth innings and is now slashing .300/.364/.500 with one home run, two RBI, seven runs scored, one stolen base and a 2:7 BB:K across 33 plate appearances to begin the season. The 27-year-old finished last season with 15 homers and 15 steals in 143 regular-season games, though his .246 average was a sizable drop from his 2024 production.

McLain went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Rangers.

McLain singled in the top of the first inning and came around to score on an RBI single from Elly De La Cruz. After snapping an 0-for-13 skid Friday, McLain is 4-for-9 through two games against Texas this weekend. He's now slashing .267/.389/.300 with just one extra-base hit, one RBI, three runs scored, and a 5:9 BB:K across 36 plate appearances to begin the 2026 season.

Schmitt (back) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Schmitt was a late scratch from Friday's lineup due to a sore back, and the issue will keep him out for an additional game Saturday. Jerar Encarnacion will pick up another start at first base as a result and bat ninth.

Merrill isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Sox.

Merrill doesn't typically step out of the lineup against left-handed starters, but after a 5-for-27 (.185) start to the season, he'll sit on the bench, with Connelly Early on the mound for Boston. Bryce Johnson will pick up a start in center field as a result and bat ninth.

Nunez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Nunez will get a breather after going 1-for-5 and scoring a run during Friday's blowout loss. Jorbit Vivas will fill in as Washington's second baseman and bat seventh.

Saggese will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Saturday's game versus the Tigers.

Saggese was in the lineup just once in the first five contests of the season, but since then he's been in the lineup for three straight games. He's filling in for the banged-up Masyn Winn (hip) at shortstop Saturday after handling second base and left field the previous two days. Saggese is 2-for-10 with a 2:4 BB:K at the dish in the early going.

Abrams went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Friday's loss to the Dodgers.

The shortstop gave the Nationals an early lead in their home opener as he took Emmet Sheehan deep in the first inning for a three-run homer. Abrams has had an impressive start to the season at the plate, batting .269 (7-for-26) through six games with two homers, four runs and 10 RBI, but he's still looking for his first steal of 2026.

Winn (hip) is absent from the lineup for Saturday's game in Detroit.

He had to depart Friday's contest due to left hip tightness, an issue that has lingered since Tuesday. Winn could be ready to return to action Sunday, but it will be Thomas Saggese filling in at shortstop and batting sixth Saturday.

McLain batted leadoff and went 2-for-5 in Friday's 5-3 win over Texas.

McLain, who moved from second in the order to leadoff with TJ Friedl getting a day off, snapped an 0-for-13 skid with a third-inning single. McLain had a monster spring training (1.540 OPS, seven HR), which carried into the first few games of the regular season, but the second baseman entered Friday's game batting just .190.

De La Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-3 win over the Rangers.

De La Cruz took left-hander MacKenzie Gore deep in the sixth inning to give the Reds a brief lead. It was the switch hitter's third home run of the season and second as a right-handed batter against a lefty. Historically, De La Cruz has been more productive from the left side (.846 OPS) than the right (.616). Of his 63 career home runs, only 15 have come when batting from the right side.