MLB Player News

Encarnacion is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Baltimore.

Encarnacion has seen his playing time pick up lately with five straight starts but he will begin Tuesday's series opener against the Orioles on the bench. Michael Conforto will serve as the Giants' designated hitter.

Chapman is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game in Baltimore.

It's a rare day off for Chapman, who leads all third basemen with 146 games played this season. Brett Wisely will get a start at the hot corner and bat ninth in the series opener.

Fitzgerald (back) will start at shortstop and bat second in Tuesday's game versus the Orioles.

Fitzgerald missed the last three contests with lower-back tightness but is ready to go following an extra day off with the Giants idle Monday. He's sporting an .880 OPS over 84 games this season for San Francisco.

The Phillies optioned Kennedy to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The 25-year-old was called up by Philadelphia on Sept. 6 but will return to Triple-A with Edmundo Sosa (back) being activated from the injured list Tuesday. Kennedy appeared in seven games during his brief time in the majors and went 2-for-10 with a double, two walks, two RBI and a run scored.

Garrett (forearm) tossed three scoreless innings in his rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, striking out three batters while scattering three hits and two walks.

Garrett built up to 59 pitches (33 strikes) in the second start of his rehab assignment, after he previously tossed three scoreless innings for Single-A Jupiter on Sept. 5. Per MLB.com, Garrett is scheduled to make another rehab start Tuesday, and assuming he gets stretched out to around five innings and 80 pitches and experiences no physical setbacks, he could be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list thereafter. Garrett has been on the shelf since June 23 with a left forearm flexor strain.

The Phillies reinstated Sosa (back) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The 28-year-old has been sidelined since Sept. 6 due to back spasms, and he'll rejoin the Phillies on Tuesday after a brief stay on the shelf. Alec Bohm (hand) also returned from the injured list over the weekend, so Sosa should reclaim his role as a utility infielder.

Smith is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest in Miami.

It's a routine day off for Smith, who had started four of the last five contests behind the plate. Hunter Feduccia is doing the catching in what will be his second career start.

Alcantara (elbow) threw live batting practice at LoanDepot Park on Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Alcantara faced batters for the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery Oct. 6, 2023. The right-hander's rehab from the operation has moved along swimmingly thus far, and he should be ready to roll for the start of spring training.

Vargas slashed .303/.406/.493 with four home runs and 11 steals in 38 Arizona Complex League games.

The 6-foot-4 infielder logged 30 starts at shortstop and four starts at third base, but many evaluators expect him to eventually outgrow the six and slide to the hot corner. Vargas' last official game of the year was July 11, yet he hit a home run in the ACL Dodgers' championship-clinching game over the ACL D-backs on July 30, per Kenny Van Doren of MiLB.com. Unlike ACL teammate Eduardo Quintero, Vargas did not get assigned to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga after the complex league wrapped up.

Meyer registered a 5.18 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 42:32 K:BB in 40 innings across 11 appearances for High-A Beloit.

Meyer was the consensus top prep righty in last year's draft, and it's an accomplishment for him to have logged 74 innings this season while climbing to High-A as a 19-year-old. However, his 16.3 percent walk rate at Single-A and 17.9 percent walk rate at High-A are dangerously high marks, even given his youth. He walked between two and five batters while never logging more than five innings over his last 10 starts. Meyer's got very strong stuff, but his control isn't ready for the upper levels.