MLB Player News

Winker will start at designated hitter and bat fifth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

He sat in favor of J.D. Martinez in Games 3 and 4, but Winker will be back in there Friday as the Mets try to stave off elimination. The 31-year-old is 2-for-7 with a 2:2 BB:K at the plate during the NLCS.

McNeil is starting at second base and batting eighth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

It's the first start this postseason for McNeil, who was added to the Mets' NLCS roster after recovering from a fractured right wrist. He is hitless in three pinch-hitting appearances to this point in the series. Jose Iglesias -- who is 5-for-14 with a 2:1 K:BB in the series -- will begin Friday's contest on the bench.

Pages will start in center field and bat ninth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Mets, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Pages is netting his second start in as many days as the Mets turn to a lefty (David Peterson) for the second day in a row. He went 0-for-4 with one strikeout in the Dodgers' Game 4 victory.

Freeman (ankle) will start at first base and bat fourth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS versus the Mets, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Freeman didn't play in Game 4, as the Dodgers didn't want him to play three days in a row on his injured right ankle. He will be back in there Friday however, as his team tries to finish off the Mets and advance to the World Series.

Freeman (ankle) said Thursday that he feels "really good" about his chances of being in the lineup Friday for Game 5 of the NLCS versus the Mets, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The Dodgers elected to hold Freeman out of Game 4 on Thursday so that he didn't have to play back-to-back days as he deals with a painful right ankle injury. He was available off the bench however, and it sounds like he'll be back in there Friday as the Dodgers look to close out the series.

Peterson will start Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Friday, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports.

Peterson last pitched in Game 1 of the NLCS, though he's appeared exclusively out of the bullpen throughout the playoffs. He has yet to complete more than three innings in any of his six postseason appearances, and Kodai Senga sounds likely to also play a significant part of the Mets' plans Friday.

Winker is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the NLCS versus the Dodgers.

J.D. Martinez will receive a second straight start at designated hitter after walking twice and striking out twice in four plate appearances in Game 3. Winker is slashing .267/.476/.600 with one home run this postseason.

Taylor is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers.

Taylor had started each of the last five games and nine of 10 contests this postseason, but he will begin Thursday's festivities on the bench as the Mets look to even the series. Harrison Bader is in center field and batting eighth.

Lux is absent from the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the NLCS versus the Mets, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

It's southpaw Jose Quintana on the bump for the Mets, so the left-handed-hitting Lux will begin the contest on the bench. Chris Taylor is occupying second base and batting ninth for the Dodgers.

Freeman (ankle) is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the NLCS against the Mets, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had said previously that he expected Freeman -- who has been playing through discomfort in his right ankle -- to start every game during the NLCS. It's not clear yet whether Freeman has experienced a setback or if Roberts decided Game 4 was a good day to get the first baseman a little rest since the Mets are starting a lefty in Jose Quintana. Max Muncy is handling first base Thursday while Enrique Hernandez plays third.