MLB Player News

Baez is in the Cubs' lineup at second base and batting seventh Thursday.

The interesting hitter isn't always starting, but when he does, fantasy players typically should use him. Baez is coming off a 4-for-4 effort Tuesday and is batting .271/.325/.500 in 78 plate appearances heading into a matchup with the Phillies' Zach Eflin.

Rojas rapped out four singles in five at-bats and scored three runs in Wednesday's win over Tampa Bay.

The light-hitting utility infielder has a .309 average built on 17 hits this year -- 14 singles and three doubles. He sees enough at-bats that there may be some deep NL-only fantasy utility here, but that's about it.

Owings went 2-for-5 with solo home run during Wednesday's loss to Washington.

It's been a spectacular start to the season for Owings, as he's already up to 14 runs, five home runs, 21 RBI, eight stolen bases and a .313/.358/.525 slash line. He's also spending plenty of time batting second in front of Paul Goldschmidt -- a cushy lineup spot. While it's difficult to envision Owings maintaining this torrid pace, there would have to be a prolonged and crippling slump before it's a legitimate fantasy concern.

Story is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Padres, Jenny Cavnar of Root Sports reports.

After starting each of the last 18 games for the Rockies, Story will head to the bench as Alexi Amarista fills in at shortstop. The 24-year-old is off to a slow start at the plate this season -- slashing .170/.271/.404 across 27 games -- so hopefully the day off will help him straighten things out.

Ahmed will start at shortstop and bat seventh in the order Wednesday against the Nationals.

Ahmed will make his fourth straight start Wednesday, but there's been no indication from the Diamondbacks that he'll be in store for an everyday role in the near future. These last two starts have come as a byproduct of David Peralta (illness) being unavailable, so once he's healthy, Ahmed figures to settle back into reserve duty.

Gordon is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Rays, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Despite swiping three bases in Monday's contest, Gordon will head to the bench on the heels of an 0-for-4 showing Tuesday night. Miguel Rojas will man the keystone for the evening.

Baez went 4-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Tuesday's win over the Phillies.

Baez filled the stat sheet from the No. 9 spot in the order and raised his slash line to .269/.315/.507. He's receiving inconsistent playing time so far this season as a utility player, but games like this show the 24-year-old's potential.

Diaz went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Brewers.

Diaz kickstarted the Cardinals' comeback by opening the scoring with a 371-foot shot to left in the fifth off Zach Davies. It was the 26-year-old's first homer since April 22 and marked the ninth time in the last 10 games that he's reached safely. While he boasts excellent strikeout (10.1 percent) and contact rates (90 percent), Diaz's walk rate is a paltry 2.0 percent and he sports an unsustainable .207 BABIP, helping explain his .227 average and ghastly .242 OBP.

Gordon went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, three stolen bases and a run scored in Monday's loss to the Rays.

He nearly single-handedly produced the Marlins' first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning, drawing a free pass, stealing second and then going to third when Derek Norris threw the ball into center field, and trotting home on a Christian Yelich sac fly. Gordon's now slashing .297/.330/.376 through 24 games with 16 runs and seven steals on eight attempts.

Baez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Monday's 10-2 loss to the Phillies.

The long ball was Baez's second of the year and came in the fifth inning off starter Vince Velasquez. The Chicago utility man was filling in at shortstop for the resting Addison Russell. Inconsistent playing time may be the reason for Baez's slow start (.222/.275/.397), but this game was a good sign for him moving forward. The 24-year-old hasn't had much success against lefties this year, hitting just .100 against them (2-for-20).