MLB Player News

Espinal entered as a pinch hitter and went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-4 win over the Cubs.

Espinal pinch hit for Will Benson against lefty reliever Drew Smyly and launched his third home run of the season to give the Reds a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. It was the first time in four games that Espinal appeared in game. The utility infielder has been useful while the Reds deal with early-season injuries.

Suarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 10-9 loss to the Mets.

Suarez went yard in the sixth inning for just his fourth home run in 56 games. The blast ended a 19-game stretch without a home run and was his first hit in 13 at-bats. Suarez is batting .211 with a .597 OPS, 26 RBI and 21 runs scored in his first season with the Diamondbacks.

Hayes went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 5-3 extra-innings loss to the Blue Jays.

The steal was his first of the year, after he'd swiped 30 over the prior two seasons combined. Hayes missed most of May with back trouble, which could help explain his lack of activity on the basepaths, and Friday's single was his first hit of any kind since May 5. The third baseman has a disappointing .237/.318/.311 slash line through 36 games with one homer and 12 RBI, but if he can stay healthy he's capable of heating up over the summer.

Arenado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Phillies.

Arenado has homered in each of his last two games. The third baseman's power numbers are still way down -- he's at five homers and a .379 slugging percentage through 53 contests -- but this could be a sign of him heating up. On the year, he's batting .257 with 26 RBI, 22 runs scored, 10 doubles and no stolen bases over 226 plate appearances.

Vientos is expected to serve as the Mets' everyday third baseman after the club optioned Brett Baty to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Baty had started at third base in four of the Mets' previous five matchups versus right-handed pitchers, but the 24-year-old was unable to break out of his extended slump at the plate. He ends his time on the Mets' 26-man active roster having hit just .132 over his last 15 games, leaving Vientos as the big club's top option at the hot corner against both right- and left-handed pitching. Though he's an inferior defender compared to Baty, Vientos has been the far more effective hitter of the two at the big-league level this season, posting a .945 OPS over 48 plate appearances for the Mets. With Baty at least temporarily removed from the mix and a path to regular at-bats having been cleared up, Vientos makes for a worthy pickup for fantasy managers seeking an infusion of power.

The Mets optioned Baty to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Baty is slashing just .225/.304/.325 this season and has struck out at 34.7 percent clip in May. With the emergence of Mark Vientos (.295/.354/.591), the Mets have elected to send Baty back to the minors in hopes of getting his swing right. Vientos will take over as the club's everyday third baseman.

Senzel (knee) will start at third base and bat sixth in Thursday's game against Atlanta.

Senzel eventually had to depart Wednesday's contest versus Atlanta after fouling a ball off his right knee in the second inning, but he's back in there the following day. The 28-year-old has experienced a power outage in May, going homerless in 22 games after he hit five in just 12 contests during April.

Vargas went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over Atlanta.

The 32-year-old utility player began the game on the bench but took over at third base when Nick Senzel fouled a ball off his knee in the second inning. Vargas has posted career-best numbers to begin this season, slashing .298/.383/.404 through 109 plate appearances with four steals, seven RBI and 11 runs. If Senzel misses any time, Vargas would be the next man up at the hot corner.

Sim is hitting .207/.261/.313 over 161 plate appearances for High-A Hillsboro.

Sim, taken 148th overall in the 2023 Draft, is adjusting to his first full season of professional baseball and is "working through some things with the hitting coaches," Arizona farm director Shaun Larkin told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. "In my experience, the first professional season really is the hardest especially for college kids," Larkin said. "They're used to playing three-game series and four games a week. Here it's every night and they're not used to that. It's just a learning process for all of them." Thus far, Kim has maintained a two-position role, playing both first (25 games) and third base (13).

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Muncy is on a "slow program" due to lingering oblique soreness and isn't currently swinging a bat, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Muncy resumed baseball activities last Tuesday, but his progress has since been slowed by continued soreness in his oblique. The third baseman is already eligible to be activated off the IL, but given Roberts' comments, it doesn't seem like Muncy is on the cusp of returning. He'll almost certainly head out on a minor-league rehab assignment prior to rejoining Los Angeles' lineup.