MLB Player News

Vargas will bat second and play second base Friday against Minnesota.

Vargas was left out of the initial starting nine Friday, but he'll jump into the lineup after Ketel Marte (foot) was scratched. Vargas has generated a hit in five of his last six games.

Marte (foot) was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Twins.

Marte was originally in line to play Friday after exiting Wednesday's game with a bruised foot, but the D-backs will err on the side of caution and keep him on the bench for at least one game. Ildemaro Vargas will step in to cover second base and bat second while Marte rests.

Marte is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.

Marte will yield to Will Benson in right field on Friday for the second time in three games. Marte is in the midst of a 1-for-21 (.048) slump, and he's struck out 13 times during that stretch.

Winn (knee) is batting sixth and playing shortstop during Friday's game against the Brewers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Winn has been playing through a meniscus tear, and he'll be back in the lineup Friday after a three-game absence. The shortstop will undergo offseason surgery to resolve the issue. The 23-year-old is slashing .253/.310/.363 with nine home runs and nine stolen bases this season.

The Cardinals optioned Raquet to Triple-A Memphis on Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Raquet was unscored upon in his first two major-league appearances this week, but he'll now head back to Memphis. John King (back) has returned from the 15-day injured list to take Raquet's roster spot.

The Cardinals optioned Fermin to Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

With Brendan Donovan (groin) back from the injured list and batting leadoff Friday in Milwaukee, Fermin will head back to Memphis. Fermin has slashed .273/.360/.386 with one home run, four RBI, three runs scored and a 6:7 BB:K across 51 plate appearances at the big-league level this season.

The Cardinals activated King (back) from the 15-day injured list Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

King hasn't made an appearance for the Cardinals since late July, as he's dealt with an oblique strain and more recently a mid-back strain. The lefty has been deemed ready to return after making one rehab appearance with Double-A Springfield.

Chapman's appeal of his one-game suspension is successful, and he will no longer have to serve the punishment, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Chapman received a suspension from MLB for pushing Kyle Freeland in a matchup with the Rockies in early September, but he'll have the suspension dropped after a successful appeal. The third baseman will take a seven-game hit streak into Friday's series opener against the Dodgers.

The Cardinals activated Donovan (groin) from the 10-day injured list Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Donovan missed just under a month of action with a left groin strain, but he's ready to go after playing two rehab games with Double-A Springfield. The 28-year-old will regain his role as the Cardinals' everyday second baseman, which will likely push Thomas Saggese back to the bench most days.

Mears (back) threw a 17-pitch bullpen Friday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Friday's session marked Mears' first time throwing off a mound since being placed on the injured list in early September due to back tightness. The 28-year-old is scheduled to throw another bullpen Sunday. He's eligible for reinstatement Wednesday.