MLB Player News

Volpe went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a pair of walks in a 9-4 win over the Marlins on Friday.

Volpe put New York on the board with his three-run blast in the second inning. The long ball was just his second in 25 games since the All-Star break, a stretch during which he has slashed .197/.319/.316 with 11 RBI and eight runs. Volpe does have four steals over that stretch to boost his fantasy value, but he's been a batting-average drain with a .212 mark on the campaign. However, he's been able to maintain an everyday role at shortstop for the Yankees and is one of 10 major-leaguers with at least 15 homers and 20 thefts so far this season.

Baez was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Sox due to right knee soreness, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Assuming Baez's issue is nothing worse than soreness, he should be able to avoid a trip to the injured list, but the TIgers' scheduled off day Monday may incentivize the team to keep Baez on the bench Sunday in order to secure three straight days to heal. The shortstop isn't exactly hitting like an everyday player anyway, slashing .221/.262/.320 with seven homers in 109 games.

Story will sit Saturday against the Tigers.

Story started four straight games after his return from elbow surgery, appearing twice at shortstop and twice at designated hitter. Those positions will be filled by Pablo Reyes and Justin Turner, respectively, on Saturday, but Story's initial usage suggests the team believes he's already ready for a heavy workload.

Mets manager Buck Showalter said Saturday that Lindor's (side) MRI returned "pretty good news," Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Lindor has already been left out of the Mets' lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, but Showalter noted the shortstop could still be available for the nightcap. Lindor is slashing .270/.375/.427 with three homers and nine RBI since the All-Star break.

Lindor (side) will sit for the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against Atlanta.

Lindor's absence is no surprise, as he's set to undergo an MRI on Saturday after being scratched Friday with soreness in his right side. The results of that MRI have yet to be released, so it's unclear whether a return for the nightcap is in play. Jonathan Arauz remains the starting shortstop in his absence.

Story started at shortstop and went 2-for-4 with a steal and a run scored in Friday's 5-2 win over Detroit.

Story had his first multi-hit game and steal since being activated off the injured list earlier this week. After fanning six times over his first eight plate appearances, Story is 3-for-7 with a walk and a strikeout since.

Duran started at designated hitter and went 1-for-4 in Friday's 2-1 win over the Giants.

Duran was hit on the hand during Wednesday's game but stayed in the contest after being attended to by trainers. That he was able to go Friday indicates no lingering effects.

Smith started at third base and went 1-for-4 in Friday's 2-1 win over San Francisco.

Smith made a second straight start at the hot corner, as the Rangers navigate life without rookie third baseman Josh Jung (thumb). He'll be out until some point in September after undergoing thumb surgery this week. Ezequiel Duran and Smith are sharing third base until Jung becomes available. While Duran's season numbers trump Smith's by a wide margin, the former has slumped since the All-Star break with a .162 average and .524 OPS.

Arcia will sit for the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Arcia is the only Atlanta hitter who will get a rest in the first game of the day. He'll likely return to the lineup for the nightcap, but in the meantime, Nicky Lopez will handle shortstop.

De La Cruz batted third and went 2-for-5 with a triple, three RBI and a run scored in Friday's 9-2 win over the Pirates

For the first time since July 16, De La Cruz was not batting leadoff for the Reds. He'd slashed .207/.281/.414 in 22 games (21 starts) atop the order. In his first game out of three hole, De La Cruz delivered a two-run triple in the first inning and knocked in a run in the eighth. Reds manager David Bell told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer that he plans to stick with the reconfigured top of the order, although he added that "nothing's permanent." TJ Friedl led off Friday followed by Matt McLain.