MLB Player News

Stephenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Stephenson will be on the bench for the second time in three games, giving way to Jose Trevino behind the dish. Stephenson is slashing .224/.310/.409 with 12 home runs in 326 plate appearances this season.

Hays (back) is out of the out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Hays left Saturday's 6-3 win due to back spasms, and he'll require at least one day off to recover. Will Benson, TJ Friedl and Noelvi Marte will patrol the outfield from left to right.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Saturday that Herrera will prepare exclusively as a catcher this offseason, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Herrera last saw action at catcher June 19, as he's been used as a full-time designated hitter since rejoining the Cardinals on July 13 following a stint on the injured list due to a hamstring strain. The move to the DH-only role was made in order to help keep Herrera healthy, but it was also due to his defensive shortcomings. Per Jim Hayes of FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, Herrera will undergo elbow surgery this offseason to correct an issue that's prevented him from getting his arm in the proper position to make throws to second base. In addition to recovering from surgery, Herrera will focus on improving his game calling. Marmol noted that Herrera's chances of sticking at catcher will "play out" during spring training, but the team is heading into the offseason expecting him to factor into the picture behind the plate. Herrera will likely finish 2025 with 14 games played (13 starts) at catcher, so he won't have eligibility at the position in most fantasy leagues entering next season. However, he should have a good chance to regain that eligibility early on in 2026.

The Mets reinstated Manaea from the paternity list Sunday ahead of his scheduled start against the Nationals.

Manaea will draw the start Sunday with Clay Holmes expected to piggyback him. The duo worked in tandem Tuesday, with Holmes drawing the start and throwing the first four innings before Manaea pitched the final five. Manaea has a 6.59 ERA and a 15:2 K:BB across 13.2 innings in September.

Pages is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

After starting at catcher both of the previous two nights, Pages will give way to Jimmy Crooks behind the plate for Sunday's series finale. Pages has recorded a hit in six of his last seven games, going 9-for-27 (.333 average).

Donovan is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Milwaukee.

Donovan will get the day off Sunday, opening up a start at second base for Jose Fermin. Since being reinstated from the injured list Sept. 12, Donovan is batting .321 with one home run, five runs and three RBI.

Arenado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Milwaukee.

Arenado made five straight starts after being activated from the injured list Monday and went 5-for-20 (.250 average) with two doubles and six RBI over that stretch. Nolan Gorman will fill in for Arenado at third base Sunday.

Stewart entered Saturday's 6-3 win over the Cubs in the sixth inning to play first base and went 0-for-1 in his lone plate appearance.

Stewart entered the game when left fielder Austin Hays (back) was removed, and Spencer Steer moved from first base to left field. Stewart had been held out of the starting lineups Friday and Saturday, likely in deference to the hot-hitting Steer and the return of third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, who missed time with a back issue. The Hays injury could lead to opportunities for Stewart at first base, although manager Terry Francona has more options for left field than just Steer. Will Benson and Gavin Lux could also fill in.

McLean didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-3 extra-innings loss to the Nationals, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.

Errors by Juan Soto and Pete Alonso in the second inning helped put Mclean in a 3-0 hole before he was lifted after 92 pitches (59 strikes), but the Mets' offense got him off the hook for the loss before the game slipped away in the 11th. The rookie right-hander has yet to give up more than two earned runs in a big-league start, and through his first 42.2 innings he sports a 1.27 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 46:14 K:BB. Per Tim Britton of the Athletic, McLean lines up to make his final start of the regular season Thursday on the road against the Cubs, which would set him up to pitch in Game 1 of the playoffs, but first the Mets have to get there -- they're just one game up on the Reds for the final wild-card spot in the NL, with the Diamondbacks two games back.

Lile went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 5-3 extra-innings win over the Mets.

The rookie outfielder's blast generated maximum drama and excitement, as he ripped a ball off the center-field fence in the top of the 11th inning that ricocheted away from Cedric Mullins and turned into a game-winning, inside-the-park homer. Lile has been on a stunning extra-base hit surge in September, and through 19 games on the month he's slashing .370/.425/.753 with two doubles, four home runs and an incredible seven triples. His 11 three-baggers on the season -- in only 330 plate appearances -- have tied the franchise record set by Denard Span in 2013.