MLB Player News

Acuna will start at second base and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Acuna will pick up just his second start in the Mets' last 15 games. He had previously been a regular presence in the lineup against left-handed pitching, though even those opportunities could begin to fall by the wayside after Ronny Mauricio was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier this month. The New York infield will become more crowded when Mark Vientos (hamstring) returns from the injured list during the upcoming week, and it wouldn't be too surprising if one of Acuna or Mauricio was sent to Triple-A in a corresponding transaction.

Mauricio will start at third base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Mauricio will nab his fifth start in six games, though three came while fellow infielder Brett Baty was out with a groin injury, and Sunday's start comes with the lefty-hitting Baty exiting the lineup due to the Phillies sending a lefty (Jesus Luzardo) to the hill. At this point, Mauricio doesn't looked to be locked in as a lineup regular against right-handed pitching when the Mets are at close to full strength, and his playing time could start to trend down once Mark Vientos (hamstring) makes his return from the injured list during the upcoming week.

Freeland (back) threw a bullpen session Sunday and is expected to return from the 15-day injured injured list to start Friday against the Brewers in Milwaukee, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

The veteran left-hander landed on the shelf due to back stiffness after his June 11 start against San Francisco, but he's on track to rejoin Colorado's rotation after spending the minimum amount of time on the IL. Freeland will likely throw another bullpen session Tuesday before being fully cleared to return this weekend.

Baty is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

After he recently missed out on three straight starts due to a groin injury, Baty returned to the lineup this weekend and went 0-for-8 with a walk and a run scored while covering third base in the first two contests of the series. He's not believed to be dealing with any sort of setback with the groin injury, as his absence from the lineup Sunday likely has more to do with southpaw Jesus Luzardo taking the hill for the Phillies. Baty has produced a lowly .420 OPS thus far in June, and he could be at risk of losing out on playing time against right-handed pitching when Mark Vientos (hamstring) likely returns from the injured list during the upcoming week.

McNeil is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

The Mets are stocking up on extra right-handed bats to counter Phillies southpaw Jesus Luzardo, so the left-handed-hitting McNeil will retreat to the bench for the series finale. McNeil has made it difficult for the Mets to take him out of the lineup against both right- and left-handed pitching of late; he had started each of the last 18 games and produced a .258/.319/.515 slash line with five home runs, 11 RBI and eight runs over that stretch.

Young is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Young had served as the Mets' designated hitter while the team faced right-handed starting pitchers in the first two games of the series, but he'll give way to Starling Marte in the series finale while southpaw Jesus Luzardo toes the rubber for Philadelphia. Young and Marte could be deployed in a soft platoon at DH until Mark Vientos (hamstring) makes his return from the injured list.

Quantrill (hamstring) is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Giants, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander dealt with a cramp in his left hamstring during his previous start last Tuesday against the Phillies, but it won't affect his availability for the next turn through the rotation. Quantrill hasn't given up more than three earned runs in an appearance since April 30, and he has a 3.93 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 32:9 K:BB across 36.2 innings during that eight-start stretch.

Johnson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Johnson had started in three of the last four games for the Padres, but he'll likely be ticketed for a fourth- or fifth-outfielder role after San Diego welcomed Jackson Merrill (concussion) back from the 7-day injured list. Since being called up from Triple-A El Paso on Monday, Johnson has gone 4-for-9 with a double, a stolen base and a run.

Brooks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Brooks had started at designated hitter in three of the Padres' last four matchups with right-handed pitchers and has gone 2-for-7 with a home run and two doubles in five games overall since being called up from Triple-A El Paso on June 15, but he's not yet locked in as a regular in the San Diego lineup. With Gavin Sheets getting a day off from playing the outfield and serving as the DH, the Padres won't have a lineup spot available for Brooks on Sunday.

Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

The left-handed-hitting Smith will take a seat against a right-handed pitcher (Lucas Giolito) for the second time in the series. Smith has produced an .801 OPS in 16 games since joining the Giants earlier this month, but he could nonetheless have to settle for a part-time role at first base against right-handed pitching with the acquisition of Rafael Devers having displaced Wilmer Flores from the designated-hitter spot.