MLB Player News

The left-handed-hitting McKinstry has certainly hit better the last two months than he did the first two, but that’s not saying much. He’s still at an awful .190/.247/.310 for the season, and while he’s probably worthy of a spot on Detroit’s roster for his versatility, he doesn’t need to be playing regularly against righties.

This time, he’s sitting even though the White Sox are facing a left-hander. No matter how badly Vargas has performed since being acquired from the Dodgers, we can’t imagine how it makes any sense for the White Sox to give Gavin Sheets at-bats over him against a lefty. Still, that’s what they’re doing. Sheets, for the record, has hit .162/.214/.222 in 168 career plate appearances against southpaws.

The Pirates probably figured they were getting a guy who would start in their outfield for a couple of years when they acquired De La Cruz at the deadline, but he’s performed poorly both offensively and defensively. They’ve also since moved Oneil Cruz to center, leaving them with just one outfield spot unspoken for going forward. As a first-time arbitration-eligible player, De La Cruz will be cheap enough that he shouldn’t be a non-tender candidate. He could be brought back to compete with Jack Suwinski, Cook and others for the right field job, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get sent elsewhere in a minor deal.

This is the last of a string of five straight left-handed starters the Marlins have been matched up against. Sánchez started two of the previous four games and finished hitless both times. For the season, he’s batting just .141/.194/.217 in 99 plate appearances versus southpaws, and he’s setting himself up to be a strict platoon guy if the Marlins return to contention at some point.

Bohm is returning one day earlier than expected after going 2-for-4 with a double in his lone rehab game Saturday. He’s playing third base and batting fifth against the Mets today.

Garcia went 0-for-7 while helping to fill in during J.T. Realmuto’s absence.

It’s not often in his career that Rizzo has been held out against a righty, but he’s hit just .191/.277/.262 in 47 plate appearance since coming off the injured list. Oswaldo Cabrera is playing first base today.

Before these five games, Rosario had been in the Reds lineup, mostly as a DH, in 10 out of 11 games. It appears the team has moved on now, though. Rosario has hit just .180/.212/.240 in 52 plate appearances since his signing, and it’s unlikely that the Reds will have much interest in bringing him back for 2025.

Casas started 17 games in a row, including four against lefties, after coming off the injured list last month, but he’s since been held out of the lineup versus southpaws five times in two weeks. Connor Wong is playing first base today.

Holliday was lifted for a pinch-hitter after striking out twice Friday, and he didn’t get into Saturday’s game. Livan Soto went 2-for-4 in that one and is playing second base again today. Holliday is 5-for-35 with one RBI this month. He’s hitting .132/.193/.184 in 83 plate appearances since Aug. 18. Anyone holding on to him ought to find an alternative for the final two weeks.

Pitching on eight days’ rest, Jobe settled for three strikeouts and gave up 10 hard-hit balls. He hadn’t surrendered more than five hits in any of his previous 19 starts in high-A and Double-A this year.