MLB Player News

Hicks is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets.

After starting the last three games while top backstop Nick Fortes dealt with a stiff neck, Hicks will retreat to the bench now that Fortes has seemingly moved past the issue. A Rule 5 draft pick over the winter, Hicks has appeared in six games so far this season and has gone 4-for-17 with an RBI.

Fortes (neck) will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Mets.

Liam Hicks will head back to the bench while Fortes checks into the starting lineup after a stiff neck kept him out of the lineup for the Marlins' past three contests. Assuming the neck issue doesn't crop up again, Fortes should see the lion's share of the starts at catcher this season.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that Abrams is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Dodgers due to right thigh tightness, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

Abrams' thigh tightened up on him during the final play of Sunday's win over the Diamondbacks. Martinez said that he's not concerned the injury could linger, but the team felt it was best to give Abrams at least one day of rest. Paul DeJong will slide over to start at shortstop in Monday's series opener, while Jose Tena will get the nod at third base.

Edwards (knee) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Monday's game against the Mets.

Edwards had been managing a sore right knee that resulted in him being scratched from the lineup ahead of Sunday's game in Atlanta before that contest was postponed due to inclement weather. The knee issue put his availability for Monday's series opener in question, but he ultimately won't end up missing any game action. Edwards enters Monday with a .250 average, four runs, three RBI and two stolen bases through Miami's first nine contests.

Bruns is recovering from a back injury in extended spring training, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.

He will be assigned to an affiliate once cleared. Bruns has failed to make significant improvements to his below-average command since entering pro ball and walked 15.6 percent of batters at High-A last year.

Reynolds is out of the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Cardinals.

It's the first day off this season for Reynolds, who is still not ready to play the outfield as he deals with right triceps soreness. Alexander Canario is getting the call in right field Monday while Andrew McCutchen serves as the Pirates' designated hitter.

Pages is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Tommy Edman will pick up the start in center field in place of Pages, who had been included in the lineup in each of the Dodgers' first 11 games of the season. The Dodgers aren't yet prepared to the pull the plug on Pages as an everyday player, but he's likely on a shorter leash after slashing .118/.268/.147 with a 34.1 percent strikeout rate over his first 41 plate appearances.

Conforto is absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.

The left-handed hitting Conforto will begin the series opener on the bench as the Nationals send southpaw MacKenzie Gore to the bump. Conforto has now started four of seven games versus lefties this season. Chris Taylor will occupy left field Monday.

Taylor will start in left field and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Nationals, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Taylor will pick up his second start of the season, filling in left field for the left-handed-hitting Michael Conforto, who will head to the bench while the Nationals send southpaw MacKenzie Gore to the hill. Though he has the ability to play multiple spots in the infield and outfield, Taylor doesn't look as though he'll be assured a regular short-side platoon role; he didn't start in the Dodgers' previous two matchups with left-handers.

Baty is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.

Baty looked to be holding down the strong side of a platoon at second base with Luisangel Acuna while Jeff McNeil (oblique) is on the shelf, but Baty has now hit the bench in three of the Mets' last six matchups with right-handed pitchers. Manager Carlos Mendoza may just be looking to keep both young hitters involved while the Mets are in the midst of a long stretch of facing right-handers, but Baty hasn't helped his case for seeing the majority of the playing time at the keystone either. He enters Monday's contest having gone just 2-for-21 (.095 average) with no walks and eight strikeouts through the Mets' first nine games of the season.