MLB Player News

Marquez is likely to work multiple innings in relief behind opener Bradgley Rodriguez in Friday's game against the Giants, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.

Rodriguez has covered exactly one inning in each of his previous three starts this season, so he'll likely be in line to work the opening frame again Friday before the Padres turn the game over to the bullpen. Marquez will be available on six days' rest and should be capable of providing some length after starting each of his last four appearances. He went 1-0 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB in 14.1 innings during that stretch.

De La Cruz went 3-for-4 with a walk, three doubles, two steals, an RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 3-2 win over Pittsburgh.

De La Cruz, who scored the game-winning run on a walk-off fielder's choice, filled the box score like he's done many times before. The multi-hit effort was his third in the last five games, and the two steals upped his total to 20, the fourth consecutive season with at least 20 thefts. Since the All-Star break, De La Cruz has posted a slash line of .308/.400/.577 with with eight walks, three doubles, one triple, three home runs, four RBI and six steals over 13 games.

The Mets optioned Pintaro to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.

Pintaro was up as the 27th man on the roster for Wednesday's doubleheader versus Atlanta, but he did not appear in either contest. The righty has permitted seven runs with a 12:3 K:BB over 12.1 frames during his time with the Mets this season.

Rodriguez will serve as the opener for Friday's game against the Giants, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.

Rodriguez will draw his fourth start of the season, but he's been limited to one inning in each of those appearances and will presumably be in line for a similar workload Friday. German Marquez is likely to pitch multiple innings in relief once Rodriguez exits the game, per Levitt.

McLain started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Pirates.

McLain, who was activated from the 10-day injured list earlier in the day, singled in his first at-bat and scored on an Elly De La Cruz double. The Reds cleared a roster spot for McLain's return by optioning Edwin Arroyo to Triple-A Louisville. That, coupled with Spencer Steer's wrist injury, should create a path to regular plate appearances for McLain as the primary second baseman.

Whisenhunt is slated to start Friday's game against the Padres in San Diego.

Whisenhunt will receive a second turn through the rotation after he took the loss last Sunday against the Angels, striking out seven and allowing four earned runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. With Trevor McDonald (elbow) and Hayden Birdsong (elbow) done for the season and Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle both candidates to be dealt ahead of Monday's trade deadline, Whisenhunt should have a fairly clear path to sticking around in the rotation.

Henriquez will serve as the opener in Friday's game against the Red Sox, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The Dodgers are treating the series opener as a bullpen day, with Henriquez likely to be lifted from the contest after an inning or two. Henriquez, who will be making his first MLB start, owns a 2.79 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 42:19 K:BB over 41 appearances on the season.

Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that he expects Ohtani (knee) to return to the lineup as the designated hitter and leadoff batter in Friday's series opener versus the Red Sox, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani was held out of the starting nine Thursday while tending to soreness in his inflamed left knee, an injury that initially forced him out of a June 11 game. The two-way phenom hasn't made an appearance as a pitcher since July 3 because of the knee issue and, to a lesser extent, a right biceps injury, is still presenting some lingering discomfort when he gets on the mound. Ohtani has continued to serve as the Dodgers' everyday DH and has been performing well at the plate in spite of the knee issue, producing a .265/.326/.518 slash line with five home runs, 15 RBI and eight runs in 21 July games. However, he hasn't attempted a stolen base in July, and his contributions in the running game could remain limited over the final two months of the season.

Hernandez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and a walk in Thursday's 6-2 win against Seattle.

Hernandez got a day off his feet as Los Angeles' designated hitter with Shohei Ohtani (knee) resting Thursday. The chance to focus on hitting seemed to benefit Hernandez, as he crushed a 412-foot solo shot to center field in the sixth inning for his first long ball since July 3 -- a span of 19 games. The veteran outfielder had just one RBI while batting a meager .177 during the homerless stretch. Hernandez did hit five long balls in August last year -- his most in any month aside from April -- so perhaps he's on the verge of turning things around amidst what has been a very quiet campaign by his typical standards.

Rushing went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Thursday in a 6-2 win against the Mariners.

Rushing's three-run blast in the fourth inning gave the Dodgers all the scoring they needed to emerge with the victory. The second-year backstop endured an 0-for-19, 10-strikeout stretch at the plate during a portion of July, but he's since turned things around, batting .375 with two homers and six RBI over his past seven contests. Rushing continues to work as Los Angeles' primary catcher, though Will Smith (neck) recently resumed baseball activities and could be back with the big club before the midpoint of August.