MLB Player News
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Draws first start at 3B since 2019
Guerrero will start at third base and bat third in Sunday's game against the Pirates.
According to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Guerrero has been taking grounders at third base in pregame workouts throughout the season, but he was believed to be more of an emergency option at the position after he had seen the bulk of his starts at first base or designated hitter over the past four-plus seasons. Regular third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa is healthy, however, and will get the start at second base Sunday, so Guerrero's inclusion at the hot corner could signal that the Blue Jays may be willing to give him more regular work at the position moving forward. Guerrero will be starting at third base Sunday for the first time since Sept. 27, 2019, with all four innings that he's played at the position since then coming as a replacement for a starter during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
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Bobby Dalbec 1B | CHW
Red Sox's Bobby Dalbec: Back with big club
The Red Sox recalled Dalbec from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.
After being demoted to Triple-A in early May, Dalbec heated up at the plate during his time at Worcester, slashing .253/.336/.526 with seven home runs in his last 24 games prior to his call-up. Dalbec has a long track record of mashing at the Triple-A level, but his massive strikeout rates across various stints in the majors over the last few seasons likely mean that the ship has sailed on him re-emerging as an everyday player for the Red Sox. However, while he's up with the big club, the right-handed-hitting Dalbec could occupy the short side of a platoon at first base or in right field with left-handed hitters Dominic Smith and Wilyer Abreu.
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Out of lineup Sunday
Torkelson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
After recording zero hits in his last 16 at-bats, Torkelson will hit the bench for the second time in the past three games as Detroit wraps up its series against Boston. Gio Urshela will take over for Torkelson at first base.
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Ryan Mountcastle 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Powers offense with two homers
Mountcastle went 2-for-3 with a walk, two home runs, four RBI and a third run scored in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Rays.
The O's launched four homers in total off Taj Bradley, and Mountcastle bookended the barrage with long balls in the first and fourth innings. The power display snapped a 17-game homer drought for the 27-year-old, but Mountcastle hasn't been slumping -- over his last 10 games he's batting .459 (17-for-37) with five doubles and five multi-hit performances. That surge has boosted his slash line on the season to .293/.333/.505 with eight home runs and 24 RBI in 51 contests.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: On base three times in loss
Guerrero went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 8-1 loss to the Pirates.
The first baseman continues to make consistent hard contact. Guerrero hasn't gone two straight games without a hit since late April, and over his last 30 contests he's slashing .368/.452/.479. He's still not providing the power expected of him and has just seven doubles and two homers during that stretch, and while he's in the 98th percentile in average exit velocity at 94.2 mph and in the 99th percentile in hard-hit rate this season, an average launch angle of 6.1 degrees -- down from 10.5 degrees last year -- is limiting his fantasy production.
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Jose Abreu 1B | HOU
Astros' Jose Abreu: Hits first homer of season
Abreu went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-2 win against the Twins.
Abreu took Minnesota starter Joe Ryan deep in the second inning for his first long ball of the campaign. It's been a rough season for the veteran first baseman, as he's slashing a meager .119/.167/.167 through 90 plate appearances. Abreu has been a bit better since returning to the big club May 27 following a demotion to the minors, going 3-for-13 (albeit with six strikeouts) over five games.
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Vinnie Pasquantino 1B | KC
Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Clubs homer in loss
Pasquantino went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run, an additional RBI and a double in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Padres.
Pasquantino twice gave the Royals a lead, first with a first-inning homer and then with an RBI single in the third, but that was the extent of the team's run production. The first baseman is heating up with three straight multi-hit efforts. He's gone 7-for-15 with four extra-base hits and six RBI in that span after batting just .148 with no multi-hit performances over a 16-game stretch. For the season, Pasquantino is slashing .242/.317/.434 with seven homers, 39 RBI, 27 runs scored, 15 doubles, one triple and no stolen bases through 56 contests.
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Nolan Schanuel 1B | LAA
Angels' Nolan Schanuel: Out again Saturday
Schanuel (thumb) is absent from the Angels' lineup Saturday versus the Mariners, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Schanuel was a late scratch from the lineup ahead of Friday's 5-4 loss and he'll once again take a seat Saturday. Willie Calhoun will slot in a first base for a second straight game while batting fourth.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
White Sox's Andrew Vaughn: Nursing injured finger
Vaughn is dealing with a sprained left ring finger, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Vaughn was set to be absent from Chicago's starting lineup again Saturday and manager Pedro Grifol announced that the 26-year-old is dealing with the finger injury. Grifol said Vaughn will miss 3-to-5 days, with Saturday's contest being the third.
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Nate Lowe 1B | CIN
Rangers' Nathaniel Lowe: On bench versus lefty
Lowe is not in the starting lineup Saturday against the Marlins.
Lowe will get a day off as Texas faces left-hander Ryan Weathers on Saturday. Ezequiel Duran will replace him at first base and bat fifth versus Miami.