MLB Player News

Cruz started in left field for Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

As part of their decision to send Cruz to Triple-A to begin the season, Pirates management stated that they wanted the prospect to get experience in the outfield. However, through five games with Indianapolis, Cruz has appeared at shortstop four times as opposed to the outfield only once. However, he looked quite accustomed to left field when he made a sliding catch in the top of the seventh inning to save a likely extra-base hit while fieldng the position Sunday. It's not clear when Cruz may get the call to Pittsburgh, though he's maintained a .381 on-base percentage with one extra-base hit across 21 plate appearances in Indianapolis.

Adames went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, two runs, a walk and two strikeouts in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Cubs.

Adames has recorded hits in each of the first three games in the 2022 season, and he put the Brewers on the board with his solo shot in the top of the third inning during Sunday's series finale. During his three-game hitting streak to open the year, he's gone 4-for-12 with a homer, a double, two runs, two RBI, a walk and five strikeouts.

Lindor went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a stolen base in Sunday's loss to the Nationals.

The rest of the Mets' lineup couldn't get much going, but Lindor provided his fantasy managers with a tasty "combo meal" to close the first weekend of MLB action. Lindor's OPS is north of 1.000 in the early going as he looks to rebound after an underwhelming first season in Queens. He was hit by a pitch on the ear flap of his helmet Friday, but Lindor quickly cleared concussion protocols.

Abrams is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Abrams started the past two games against right-handed pitchers and will take a seat in the series finale with southpaw Caleb Smith on the mound for Arizona. The rookie appears to be in the strong side of a platoon at shortstop, with Ha-Seong Kim taking the short side and starting Sunday.

Rojas is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Rojas is 2-for-8 with a double and a run scored through the first two games of the season and will head to the bench Sunday. Joey Wendle will shift to shortstop while Brian Anderson starts at the hot corner.

Castillo is starting at second base and hitting fifth in Sunday's lineup against the Cardinals, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Castillo entered Thursday's game at third base after Ke'Bryan Hayes was forced to exit. However, Sunday will mark his first career start, and he will patrol second base while hitting fifth. Hoy Park is out of the lineup and has started only one of the team's three games early in the campaign.

DeJong went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in a 6-2 win Saturday against the Pirates.

DeJong's two-out, two-run home run in the fourth inning gave the Cardinals the lead for good. He walked and struck out twice in his other three plate appearances. After losing the starting shortstop job to Edmundo Sosa last season, the former All-Star was named the starter for 2022 after hitting .435/.536/.826 in 11 spring contests. The 28-year-old has hit sixth in the St. Louis lineup in both games to start the season.

Lindor (face) will bat third and play shortstop Saturday against Washington.

Lindor left Friday's game after getting hit in the head by a pitch, but he avoided serious injury. He'll remain in the lineup and will look to improve on his slow start, which saw him go 1-for-6 with four strikeouts through his first two games.

Lindor (face) expects to be in the lineup Saturday against the Nationals, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Lindor was hit in the head by a pitch Friday and was forced to leave the game, but he cleared concussion protocol and his X-rays came back negative. His presence in the Mets' lineup should be confirmed soon once the team reveals its starting nine.

Wendle isn't starting Saturday's game against the Giants, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.

Wendle went 1-for-3 with a run and a walk in Friday's season opener against San Francisco. Brian Anderson will start at the hot corner and bat sixth Saturday since manager Don Mattingly tends to play most of his players during the first series of the season before shifting to a regular lineup.