Position Player Playing Time Changes: May 5, 2026
We’re coming off one of the most active weeks for significant position player playing time changes of the season, with a very unfortunate (but hopefully not too long-term) injury to Ronald Acuña Jr., and the Marlins shuffling things behind the dish by optioning out Agustín Ramírez for Joe Mack. Here are all of the players who lost or gained at least 10% of their projected playing time for the remainder of the season:
Notable Remaining Playing Time Changes, 4/28 to 5/5
| Name | Team | Positions | % of Remaining PT, 4/28 | % of Remaining PT, 5/5 | PT Change | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Mack | MIA | C | 38% | 60% | 22% | Welcome to the big leagues! |
| Jasson Domínguez | NYY | LF, DH, RF, CF | 23% | 44% | 21% | Playing just about every day with Giancarlo Stanton IL’d |
| Michael Massey | KCR | 2B, DH, LF | 52% | 72% | 20% | Season-ending surgery for Jonathan India keeps PT wide open |
| Jesus Rodriguez | SFG | C, 2B | 2% | 20% | 18% | Called up for the first time to try to add to offense |
| Nick Gonzales | PIT | 3B, 2B, SS | 55% | 73% | 18% | One of the league’s hottest hitters |
| Jarred Kelenic | CHW | RF, DH, LF | 1% | 18% | 17% | He’s back in the bigs and playing every day against RHP |
| Andrew Vaughn | MIL | 1B, DH | 61% | 78% | 17% | Back from the IL after hamate surgery |
| Jonah Heim | ATH | C | 9% | 25% | 16% | Acquired from ATL with Shea Langeliers on paternity leave, could stay on as backup |
| Ezequiel Duran | TEX | 2B, SS, 3B, 1B, LF | 38% | 54% | 16% | Superutility extraordinare continues to earn more PT |
| Angel Martínez | CLE | LF, CF, RF, 2B, 3B, SS | 46% | 61% | 15% | Same deal as Duran |
| Coby Mayo | BAL | 3B, 1B | 21% | 36% | 15% | Jordan Westburg setback creates more PT |
| Brice Matthews | HOU | CF, LF, 2B | 17% | 31% | 14% | Playing more frequently lately |
| Bryce Eldridge | SFG | DH, 1B | 48% | 62% | 14% | Brought back up to provide a spark |
| Drew Gilbert | SFG | CF, RF, LF | 37% | 50% | 13% | Will Brennan sent down |
| Zach Cole | HOU | LF, CF, RF | 24% | 37% | 13% | Called up after Triple-A toe fracture |
| Ty France | SDP | 1B, DH | 33% | 45% | 12% | Continues to get about half the time at 1B |
| José Caballero | NYY | SS, 2B, 3B, LF, RF | 41% | 53% | 12% | Has staved Anthony Volpe off as the starting SS for now |
| Ildemaro Vargas | ARI | 1B, 3B, 2B, SS | 40% | 51% | 11% | Reigning NL Player of the Month should continue to bounce around |
| Garrett Mitchell | MIL | CF, LF | 60% | 71% | 11% | Blake Perkins demotion opens more time against LHP |
| MJ Melendez | NYM | RF, LF | 9% | 19% | 10% | Playing every day against RHP, at least until Luis Robert Jr. is back |
| JJ Bleday | CIN | LF, RF, CF | 31% | 41% | 10% | Has hit excellently since recall |
| Nick Loftin | KCR | 3B, LF, 2B, 1B | 13% | 23% | 10% | Along with Michael Massey, absorbs lost India PT |
| Jose Fernandez | ARI | 1B, DH, 3B, SS | 48% | 58% | 10% | In more of a platoon role now but should still stick around |
| Yohandy Morales | WSN | 1B | 2% | 12% | 10% | One of Triple-A’s hottest hitters, and Luis García Jr. is struggling |
| Nick Castellanos | SDP | RF, DH, 1B, LF | 44% | 34% | -10% | Still not hitting and it’s not like the defense plays |
| Blake Perkins | MIL | CF | 22% | 11% | -11% | Optioned to minors |
| Everson Pereira | CHW | RF, CF, LF | 57% | 46% | -11% | On IL for second time this year |
| Will Brennan | SFG | RF, LF, DH | 21% | 10% | -11% | Optioned to minors |
| Anthony Volpe | NYY | SS | 71% | 60% | -11% | Optioned to minors after iffy rehab performance |
| Yohel Pozo | STL | C, 1B, DH | 26% | 14% | -12% | Still on roster, but hardly ever plays |
| Luis Robert Jr. | NYM | CF, DH | 84% | 71% | -13% | Lumbar spine disc herniation; timetable unclear |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | ATL | RF, DH | 93% | 79% | -14% | Grade 1 hamstring strain hopefully won’t keep him out too long |
| Heriberto Hernández | MIA | DH, LF, RF | 43% | 26% | -17% | Optioned to minors |
| Max Muncy | ATH | 3B, 2B, SS | 64% | 47% | -17% | Fractured metacarpal could keep him out awhile |
| Austin Hays | CHW | LF, RF, DH | 61% | 43% | -18% | Like Pereira, on IL for a second time already |
| Jerar Encarnacion | SFG | DH, RF, 1B | 19% | 1% | -18% | DFA’d |
| Thomas Saggese | STL | LF, 3B, SS, 2B, CF, 1B | 39% | 20% | -19% | Optioned to minors to get more playing time |
| Ronny Mauricio | NYM | SS, 3B, DH, 2B | 30% | 10% | -20% | Fractured thumb |
| George Valera | CLE | LF, DH, RF | 55% | 34% | -21% | Optioned to minors |
| Rece Hinds | CIN | RF, CF, DH | 27% | 6% | -21% | Optioned to minors |
| Nick Yorke | PIT | 3B, RF, 2B, 1B, LF | 49% | 27% | -22% | Optioned to minors |
| Javier Báez | DET | SS, CF, 3B, 2B | 60% | 37% | -23% | Ugly-looking sprained ankle |
| Austin Wynns | ATH | C | 26% | 3% | -23% | In danger of losing roster spot to Heim when Langeliers is back from paternity |
| Jordan Westburg | BAL | 3B, DH, 2B | 57% | 34% | -23% | Suffered setback with elbow and shut down from throwing |
| Agustín Ramírez | MIA | C, DH | 72% | 32% | -40% | Optioned out to make room for Mack |
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Looks like Matt McLain’s role is diminishing as well, he’s been pushed down in the lineup and has missed multiple games in the last week.