MLB Player News
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Nate Lowe 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Nathaniel Lowe: Logs two hits in return
Lowe went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Pirates.
Lowe returned to the team after being on paternity leave and had two hits, his third multi-hit game in 10 games since joining the Red Sox. He'll resume his role as the strong side of a platoon at first base along with Romy Gonzalez.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | TEX
Rangers' Rowdy Tellez: Goes hitless Sunday
Tellez started at first base and went 0-for-5 in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Athletics.
Tellez has handled regular reps at first base against right-handed pitching in recent weeks, but he's gone just 5-for-27 with a 2:10 BB:K over his last 10 games and could be at risk of losing out on regular starts. According to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, Jake Burger (wrist) could be activated from the injured list as soon as Monday, and the Rangers may consider giving the right-handed-hitting Burger a look as the full-time first baseman rather than deploying him in a platoon with Tellez.
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Jake Burger 3B | TEX
Rangers' Jake Burger: Could be activated Monday
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Burger (wrist) could be activated from the 10-day injured list as soon as Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Burger wasn't sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment since landing on the injured list Aug. 18 due to a left wrist sprain, but he's been able to face live pitching at the Rangers' facility in Arizona and appears to be ready for game action. Whenever he's activated, Burger is likely to step back into the short side of a platoon at first base with the left-handed-hitting Rowdy Tellez.
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Nolan Schanuel 1B | LAA
Angels' Nolan Schanuel: Yet to resume activity
Schanuel (wrist) said Friday that he has yet to resume baseball activities, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
After being placed on the shelf last Sunday due to a bone bruise in his left wrist, Schanuel expressed confidence that he would be available to rejoin the Angels in the minimum 10 days, but he doesn't appear to be progressing as quickly as he anticipated. The Angels will likely continue to get by with a platoon of Niko Kavadas and Oswald Peraza at first base until Schanuel makes a full recovery.
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Coby Mayo 3B | BAL
Orioles' Coby Mayo: Bowing out of lineup
Mayo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
With Ryan Mountcastle drawing a start at first base and Gunnar Henderson getting a day off from playing shortstop but remaining in the lineup as the Orioles' designated hitter, Mayo will be the odd man out of the lineup. Mayo had started in each of Baltimore's last six games and went just 2-for-23, bringing his batting average down to .184 for the season.
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Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Gaining foothold in lineup
Duran is batting eighth and playing second base in Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Duran will remain in the lineup for the fourth time in five games and will be occupying the keystone for the second day in a row. With super-utility man Josh Smith likely to see most of his playing time at shortstop moving forward due to Corey Seager (appendectomy) being potentially lost for the season, Duran could end up emerging as the Rangers' primary option at second base. Duran has been productive at the plate throughout August, slashing .328/.349/.410 with no home runs and three stolen bases through 20 games on the month.
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Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Absence continuing Sunday
Kurtz (oblique) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
The 22-year-old had an MRI come back clean Saturday, but he'll still be held out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. Manager Mark Kotsay indicated Saturday that Kurtz should be back soon but didn't provide a target date. Tyler Soderstrom is filling it at first base, with Carlos Cortes starting in left field.
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Niko Kavadas 1B | LAA
Angels' Niko Kavadas: Not in Sunday's lineup
Kavadas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Kavadas started the previous two games but will head to the bench for Sunday's series finale in Houston. Oswald Peraza is starting at first base and batting ninth against Astros righty Hunter Brown.
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Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Drawing fourth straight start
Gonzalez will start at second base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Gonzalez will stick in the lineup for a fourth straight game, occupying the keystone for the first time during that stretch as Nathaniel Lowe returns from the paternity list. Though Gonzalez has been at his best against left-handed pitching this season with a .977 OPS in 122 plate appearances, he's been serviceable against righties with a .273/.296/.414 slash line over 135 PAs. The Red Sox could prioritize Gonzalez over David Hamilton at second base until Wilyer Abreu (calf) returns from the injured list, which would push Ceddanne Rafaela to the infield on a more frequent basis.
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Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Gets promising results from MRI
Kurtz's MRI on his oblique revealed that he does not have a strain, and manager Mark Kotsay said he's hopeful the first baseman will be back playing "sooner than later," Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
This should provide a big sigh of relief for both the A's and fantasy managers who roster Kurtz, as an oblique strain would have likely resulted in a stint on the IL. Instead, Kurtz should be considered day-to-day, though he's not in the lineup Saturday versus Texas. Tyler Soderstrom will likely hold down the fort at first base until Kurtz is ready to return to action.